Encyclopedia of Gig Economy

Dear Colleagues,

The gig economy consists of a tripartite relation between workers, platforms/apps, and employers, leading to a two-sided market where algorithms match supply and demand for paid labour and employers. Workers are colloquially known as freelancers who undertake work by choice; this work ranges from task-related jobs for decentralised beneficiaries, varying from food delivery and housework, to online professional consulting or asset sharing, like renting an apartment. The platform/app intermediary matching algorithm performs its part to keep the market running. Beneficiaries are companies or persons who pay for the work received. Interestingly, some market participants in the gig economy can be registered as both freelancers and clients, oscillating between the two roles, leading, in a way, to prosumers.

The gig economy started to become a paradigm in the transformative contemporary labour market. In this sense, the phenomenon is not that straight forward from legal, social and economic perspectives. Therefore, the future of the gig economy lies not in gig work itself but in the regulatory frameworks and social constructions surrounding it. The domains of the gig economy may diversify beyond traditional food delivery, transportation, and (semi) professional services.

Technology plays its part. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) is relevant in this context, as some repetitive tasks currently performed by gig workers may soon be replaced by AI; it may also improve algorithms for more personalised services. Moreover, the gig economy has a role in addressing climate change and environmental challenges, contributing to a circular economy and a resource-efficient global society.

Dr. Răzvan Hoinaru
Dr. Charles Mario Abela
Dr. Daniel Niţoi
Collection Editors

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