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Safeguards against Opportunism in Freelance Contracting on the Internet

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  • Andrey Shevchuk
  • Denis Strebkov

Abstract

Based on a large sample of 5,756 Russian†speaking freelancers from an international online labour market, this study provides rare quantitative evidence of the external labour market where freelancers act under constant threat of client†side opportunism. We explore how the formalization of agreements, social embeddedness and mode of communication are associated with the incidence of opportunism and further possibilities of resolving problems caused by agreement violations. Social ties and face†to†face contact appear to be better safeguards against opportunism in freelance contracting, which is largely informal. The study has important implications for the debates about non†standard work, online labour markets and job quality in the new economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrey Shevchuk & Denis Strebkov, 2018. "Safeguards against Opportunism in Freelance Contracting on the Internet," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 56(2), pages 342-369, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:56:y:2018:i:2:p:342-369
    DOI: 10.1111/bjir.12283
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    3. Lehdonvirta, Vili & Kässi, Otto & Hjorth, Isis & Barnard, Helena & Graham, Mark, 2018. "The Global Platform Economy: A New Offshoring Institution Enabling Emerging-Economy Microproviders," SocArXiv jt4z7, Center for Open Science.
    4. Tóth, Zsófia & Nemkova, Ekaterina & Hizsák, Gábor & Naudé, Peter, 2022. "Social capital creation on professional sharing economy platforms: The problems of rating dependency and the non-transferability of social capital," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 450-460.
    5. Wood, Alex & Lehdonvirta, Vili, 2021. "Antagonism beyond employment: how the ‘subordinated agency’ of labour platforms generates conflict in the remote gig economy," SocArXiv y943w_v1, Center for Open Science.
    6. Wood, Alex & Lehdonvirta, Vili, 2021. "Antagonism beyond employment: how the ‘subordinated agency’ of labour platforms generates conflict in the remote gig economy," SocArXiv y943w, Center for Open Science.
    7. Norbäck, Maria & Styhre, Alexander, 2019. "Making it work in free agent work: The coping practices of Swedish freelance journalists," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(4).
    8. Paula McDonald & Penny Williams & Robyn Mayes & Maria Khan, 2024. "Income generation on care work digital labour platforms," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 62(2), pages 358-380, June.

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