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Cited by 113Digital Economy and Work TransformationLabor market dynamics and wage inequalityDigital Platforms and Economics

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 35 of the 36 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The winners and the losers of the platform economy: who participates?

Hoang, Lyn, Blank, Grant, Quan-Haase, Anabel·2020·Information, Communication & Society
DOI 10.1080/1369118x.2020.1720771
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Abstract

The platform economy is rapidly transforming the dynamics of the labor market. Optimists argue platform work functions as a social equalizer, opening opportunities for additional earnings for those who need it most. Pessimists suggest that the platform economy widens earning disparities by providing additional income to people who already have good jobs. We contribute to this debate by examining who participates in the platform economy and their motivation for participation, using a US nationally representative sample. Our findings offer support for both perspectives. Those who participated in labor-exchange platforms were more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds. By contrast, those who participated in online selling platforms were more likely to come from more affluent backgrounds. When we further examined different types of platform work, we found that different types of platform work were performed by different demographic and social groups. In addition, participation in some platform work, such as rideshare driving and house/laundry cleaning, is motivated out of necessity, while other platform work, such as selling used goods and performing online tasks, is generally used to supplement incomes. Distinct occupations tend to benefit different social groups in different ways and, taken together, disadvantaged groups are less likely to perform types of platform work that would improve their economic position and reduce income disparities. This tends to offer more support for the pessimist’s perspective. We conclude that the platform economy is strongly segregated by occupation and it should be examined as a set of distinct occupations rather than a homogenous industry.

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Crossref · 10.1080/1369118x.2020.1720771

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Citations

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Dittrich P., 2018, Jacques Delors Institut, 227, 1
  2. Evans P., 2016, The rise of the platform entreprise
  3. Huws U., 2016, FEPS Studies, 1
  4. Smith A., 2016, Gig work, online selling and homesharing
  5. Smith T., 2019, General social survey, 2016
  6. Wilkinson R., 2010, The spirit level

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Metadata

Authors
Hoang, L., Blank, G., & Quan-Haase, A.
Affiliations
  • Western University (CA)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
Corresponding author
Hoang, Lyn
ORCID
Venue
Information, Communication & Society
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2020-02-04
Volume
23
Issue
5
Pages
681-700
ISSN
  • 1369-118X (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-4462
DOI
10.1080/1369118x.2020.1720771
OpenAlex
W3004635479
Cited by
113
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 5
FWCI
19.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Information Communication & Society (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Economy and Work Transformation
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Labor market dynamics and wage inequality
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Digital Platforms and Economics
Keywords
platform economy, platform work, labor force participation, income inequality, occupational segregation, participation motivation

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