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Well-being effects of the digital platform economy. The case of temporary and self- employment

Author

Listed:
  • Maite Blázquez

    (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid.)

  • Ainhoa Herrarte

    (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid.)

  • Ana I. Moro Egido

    (Department of Economic Theory and Economic History, University of Granada.)

Abstract

The increase in atypical jobs (self-employment and temporary jobs) driven by the digital platform economy (gig economy) has put this type of work in the spotlight of the social and political debate. Among the countries of the European Union, Spain stands out for having the highest volume of digital platform work. This study uses microdata from the Spanish Living Conditions Survey for the year 2018 and Google trends data on Deliveroo, Airbnb, Just Eat, Uber, and Freelance as a proxy of digital platform economy demand to analyse the well-being effects of being employed in any of the types of employment arrangements associated with the gig economy. Using an econometric approached based on instrumental variables, we find evidence that the most deleterious well-being effects are found among self-employed workers and for the dimension of well-being based on self-reported health. The self-employed (ownaccount workers) display a 125.8% decrease in average self-reported health levels compared to permanent workers. Our results suggest that the greater job insecurity and precariousness associated with self-employment outweighs the potential positive impact caused by the greater flexibility and autonomy of this type of work.

Suggested Citation

  • Maite Blázquez & Ainhoa Herrarte & Ana I. Moro Egido, 2023. "Well-being effects of the digital platform economy. The case of temporary and self- employment," ThE Papers 23/05, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada..
    • Handle: RePEc:gra:wpaper:23/05
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital platform economy; Gig economy; Digital platform work; Self-employment; Temporary jobs; Well-being; Self-reported health; Happiness; Life satisfaction.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions
    • J40 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - General

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