Towards a political economy of platform-mediated work. Issue 3 (1st September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tucker, Eric
• Is Part Of: Studies in political economy. Volume 101:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 185
• Page End: 207
• Publication Date: 2020-09-01
• Subjects: Gig economy -- platform capitalism -- platform-mediated work -- political economy -- precarious employment; Economics -- Political aspects -- Periodicals; Socialism -- Periodicals; Economics -- Periodicals; Canada -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Economie politique -- Périodiques; Canada -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; Economic history; Economics; Canada; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 330
• DOI: 10.1080/07078552.2020.1848499
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0707-8552

Abstract

Abstract: Platform-mediated work, characterized as digital intermediation between workers and buyers of labour service, most famously exemplified by Uber, reveals how the transformation of the forces of production is reshaping relations of production. Using a political economy approach, this article takes us behind market exchanges between workers, platform operators, and clients to examine who extracts surplus value from workers, and how. It identifies two distinct models based on whether labour is performed locally on the ground or through the cloud.