The Political Gig-Economy: Platformed Work and Labor

Attila Marton, Hamid Ekbia

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The notion of work and labor is changing as digital technologies do not only complement and substitute jobs but also decompose them into tasks coordinated by digital labor platforms. We call upon IS research to critically engage with the political economy of platforms and to study them as mechanisms for the extraction of value, distribution of wealth and power, as well as a particular relationship between humans and machines. To this effect, we explore potential conceptual avenues for such engagement by comparing the platforming of work and labor in the gig-economy with the division of labor found in the workshop and the factory. We conclude the distinct characteristics of the political economy of platforms marked by the hidden or invisible work and labor of participants, and new modes of extracting value from their participation.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 40th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS)
EditorsHelmut Krcmar, Jane Fedorowicz, Wai Fong Boh, Jan Marco Leimeister, Sunil Wattal
Number of pages17
Place of PublicationAtlanta, GA
PublisherAssociation for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL)
Publication date2019
Article number2287
ISBN (Electronic)9780996683197
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Event40th International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS 2019: Information Systems - The Heart of Innovation Ecosystems - International Congress Center Munich (ICM), Munich, Germany
Duration: 15 Dec 201918 Dec 2019
Conference number: 40
https://icis2019.aisconferences.org/

Conference

Conference40th International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS 2019
Number40
LocationInternational Congress Center Munich (ICM)
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityMunich
Period15/12/201918/12/2019
Internet address
SeriesProceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems
ISSN0000-0033

Bibliographical note

Also published under the title: The Political Gig-Economy: Platformed Work and Labour

Keywords

  • Political economy
  • Work
  • Gig-economy
  • Platforms
  • Labor

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