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The gig economy

Author

Listed:
  • Paul Oyer

    (Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and NBER, USA, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

The number of people holding non-traditional jobs (independent contractors, temporary workers, “gig” workers) has grown steadily as technology increasingly enables short-term labor contracting and fixed employment costs continue to rise. For many firms that need less than a full-time person for short-term work and for many workers who value flexibility this has created a great deal of surplus. During slack economic periods, non-traditional work also serves as an alternative safety net. Non-traditional jobs will continue to become more common, though policy changes could slow or accelerate the trend.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Oyer, 2020. "The gig economy," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 471-471, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:2020:n:471
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. M. Keith Chen & Judith A. Chevalier & Peter E. Rossi & Emily Oehlsen, 2019. "The Value of Flexible Work: Evidence from Uber Drivers," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(6), pages 2735-2794.
    2. Katharine G. Abraham & John Haltiwanger & Kristin Sandusky & James Spletzer, 2019. "The Rise of the Gig Economy: Fact or Fiction?," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 109, pages 357-361, May.
    3. Stanton, Christopher & Thomas, Catherine, 2019. "Missing trade in tasks: employer outsourcing in the gig economy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 102624, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Lawrence F. Katz & Alan B. Krueger, 2019. "The Rise and Nature of Alternative Work Arrangements in the United States, 1995–2015," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 72(2), pages 382-416, March.
    5. Alexandre Mas & Amanda Pallais, 2017. "Valuing Alternative Work Arrangements," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(12), pages 3722-3759, December.
    6. John J. Horton, 2017. "The Effects of Algorithmic Labor Market Recommendations: Evidence from a Field Experiment," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 35(2), pages 345-385.
    7. Cody Cook & Rebecca Diamond & Jonathan V Hall & John A List & Paul Oyer, 2021. "The Gender Earnings Gap in the Gig Economy: Evidence from over a Million Rideshare Drivers [Measuring the Gig Economy: Current Knowledge and Open Issues]," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 88(5), pages 2210-2238.
    8. Cody Cook & Rebecca Diamond & Paul Oyer, 2019. "Older Workers and the Gig Economy," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 109, pages 372-376, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ou, Kai & Pan, Xiaofei, 2021. "The effect of task choice and task assignment on the gender earnings gap: An experimental study," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    2. Meng Liu & Erik Brynjolfsson & Jason Dowlatabadi, 2021. "Do Digital Platforms Reduce Moral Hazard? The Case of Uber and Taxis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(8), pages 4665-4685, August.
    3. Strittmatter, Anthony & Wunsch, Conny, 2021. "The Gender Pay Gap Revisited with Big Data: Do Methodological Choices Matter?," Working papers 2021/05, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    4. Popov, Alexander, 2022. "The division of spoils in a booming industry," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 341-369.
    5. Evelina Wikner & Raik Orbay & Sara Fogelström & Torbjörn Thiringer, 2022. "Gender Aspects in Driving Style and Its Impact on Battery Ageing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-15, September.
    6. Altanshagai Batmunkh & Maria Fekete-Farkas & Zoltan Lakner, 2022. "Bibliometric Analysis of Gig Economy," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, April.
    7. Menzel, Andreas & Woodruff, Christopher, 2021. "Gender wage gaps and worker mobility: Evidence from the garment sector in Bangladesh," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gig economy; independent workers; flexibility;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue

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