(Dis)embeddedness and (de)commodification: COVID-19, Uber, and the unravelling logics of the gig economy. Issue 2 (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Katta, Srujana; Badger, Adam; Graham, Mark; Howson, Kelle; Ustek-Spilda, Funda; Bertolini, Alessio
• Is Part Of: Dialogues in human geography. Volume 10:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 203
• Page End: 207
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: commodification -- conjunctural geographies -- COVID-19 -- employment -- gig economy -- labour -- platform -- ride-hailing -- Uber; Human geography -- Periodicals; Human ecology -- Periodicals; Environmental ethics -- Periodicals; 304.205
• DOI: 10.1177/2043820620934942
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2043-8206

Abstract

The ride-hailing giant Uber has long circumvented labour regulations and commodified its drivers' labour by existing at the conjuncture of multiple geographies – being simultaneously embedded and disembedded from the places where it operates. In this commentary, we argue that the COVID-19 pandemic has destabilised Uber's 'conjunctural' existence and forced the company to become more embedded in the locations where it operates, bringing about a – perhaps temporary – turn towards the decommodification of its drivers' labour.