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Cited by 267Digital Economy and Work TransformationEmployment and Welfare StudiesPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Uber happy? Work and well-being in the ‘Gig Economy’

Berger, Thor, Frey, Carl Benedikt, Levin, Guy, Danda, Santosh Rao·2019·Economic Policy
DOI 10.1093/epolic/eiz007
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Abstract

SUMMARY We study the rise of the so-called ‘gig economy’ through the lens of Uber and its drivers in the United Kingdom. Using administrative data from Uber and a new representative survey of London drivers, we explore their backgrounds, earnings, and subjective well-being. We find that the vast majority of Uber drivers are male immigrants, primarily drawn from the bottom half of the London income distribution. Most transitioned out of permanent part- or full-time jobs and about half of drivers’ report that their incomes increased after partnering with Uber. After covering vehicle operation costs and Uber’s service fee, we estimate that the median London driver earns about £11 per hour spent logged into the app. But while Uber drivers remain at the lower end of the London income distribution, they report higher levels of life satisfaction than other workers. Consistent with a trade-off between evaluative and emotional well-being observed among the self-employed, they also report higher anxiety levels. We hypothesize that the higher life satisfaction among Uber drivers partly reflects their preferences for flexibility and the autonomy that the platform offers. We provide suggestive evidence showing that drivers who emphasize flexibility as an important motivation to join Uber also report higher levels of subjective well-being. However, a minority of drivers who report that they would prefer work as an employee report lower levels of life satisfaction and higher levels of anxiety. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of non-monetary factors in shaping the welfare of workers in the gig economy.

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Crossref · 10.1093/epolic/eiz007

Cites

35 of 35 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Uber drivers reported higher anxiety levels than other London workers.

    “Similar to other self-employed workers, Uber drivers also reported higher anxiety levels than other London workers (Berger et al., 2019).”

    From Gig work and gig workers: An integrative review and agenda for future research (2024) · cites this paper as Berger et al., 2019

  • London Uber drivers remain at the lower end of income distribution but reported higher levels of life satisfaction than other London workers in traditional work arrangements.

    “With a representative survey of London Uber drivers, Berger et al. (2019) found that although Uber drivers remain at the lower end of income distribution, they reported higher levels of life satisfaction than other London workers in traditional work arrangements.”

    From Gig work and gig workers: An integrative review and agenda for future research (2024) · cites this paper as Berger et al. (2019)

  • Among Uber drivers, those who value flexibility and autonomy tend to report higher life satisfaction, whereas those who prefer work as an employee tend to report lower life satisfaction and higher anxiety.

    “Berger et al. (2019) found that those who value flexibility and autonomy tend to report higher life satisfaction, whereas those who prefer work as an employee tend to report lower life satisfaction and higher anxiety.”

    From Gig work and gig workers: An integrative review and agenda for future research (2024) · cites this paper as Berger et al. (2019)

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Authors
Berger, T., Frey, C. B., Levin, G., & Danda, S. R.
Affiliations
Lund University (SE)
Corresponding author
Berger, Thor
ORCID
Venue
Economic Policy
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2019-07-01
Volume
34
Issue
99
Pages
429-477
ISSN
  • 0266-4658 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-0327
DOI
10.1093/epolic/eiz007
OpenAlex
W2903427932
Cited by
267
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 45 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 5
FWCI
38.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
Locations
  • Economic Policy (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Economy and Work Transformation
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Employment and Welfare Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords
gig economy, Uber drivers, subjective well-being, life satisfaction, anxiety, work flexibility, self-employment, immigrant workers, earnings, job loss, employment status, platform work, London

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