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. 2019 Feb;33(1):56-75.
doi: 10.1177/0950017018785616. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Good Gig, Bad Gig: Autonomy and Algorithmic Control in the Global Gig Economy

Alex J Wood  1 , Mark Graham  1 , Vili Lehdonvirta  1 , Isis Hjorth  1
Affiliations

Good Gig, Bad Gig: Autonomy and Algorithmic Control in the Global Gig Economy

Alex J Wood et al. Work Employ Soc. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

This article evaluates the job quality of work in the remote gig economy. Such work consists of the remote provision of a wide variety of digital services mediated by online labour platforms. Focusing on workers in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, the article draws on semi-structured interviews in six countries (N = 107) and a cross-regional survey (N = 679) to detail the manner in which remote gig work is shaped by platform-based algorithmic control. Despite varying country contexts and types of work, we show that algorithmic control is central to the operation of online labour platforms. Algorithmic management techniques tend to offer workers high levels of flexibility, autonomy, task variety and complexity. However, these mechanisms of control can also result in low pay, social isolation, working unsocial and irregular hours, overwork, sleep deprivation and exhaustion.

Keywords: Flexibility; gig economy; job quality; labour process; platform economy; workplace control.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A model of job quality determinants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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