Collective action and provider classification in the sharing economy

Conditions in the sharing economy are often favourably designed for consumers and platforms but entail new challenges for the labour side, such as substandard social‐security and rigid forms of algorithmic management. Since comparatively little is known about how providers in the sharing economy mak...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:New technology, work, and employment Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 250 - 267
Main Authors: Newlands, Gemma, Lutz, Christoph, Fieseler, Christian
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2018
Subjects:
Activism
Activists
Attitudes
Classification
Cluster analysis
Collective action
Collectivism
Consumers
informal employment
occupational identity
online communities
Sharing economy
Social security
Substandard
trade unionism
Voluntariness
ISSN:0268-1072, 1468-005X
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Conditions in the sharing economy are often favourably designed for consumers and platforms but entail new challenges for the labour side, such as substandard social‐security and rigid forms of algorithmic management. Since comparatively little is known about how providers in the sharing economy make their voices heard collectively, we investigate their opinions and behaviours regarding collective action and perceived solidarities. Using cluster analysis on representative data from across 12 European countries, we determine five distinct types of labour‐activists, ranging from those opposed to any forms of collective action to those enthusiastic to organise and correct perceived wrongs. We conclude by conjecturing that the still‐ongoing influx of new providers, the difficulty of organising in purely virtual settings, combined with the narrative of voluntariness of participation and hedonic gratifications might be responsible for the inaction of large parts of the provider base in collectivist activities.
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ISSN:0268-1072
1468-005X
DOI:10.1111/ntwe.12119