The Developmental Possibilities of Gig Work on Digital Platforms: The Limits to the Hope and Hype in India

Balaji Parthasarathy (), Janaki Srinivasan, M. Bilahari, Raktima Kalita, Mounika Neerukonda, Meghashree Balaraj, Aditya Singh and Mark Graham
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Balaji Parthasarathy: International Institute of Information Technology
Janaki Srinivasan: International Institute of Information Technology
M. Bilahari: International Institute of Information Technology
Raktima Kalita: International Institute of Information Technology
Mounika Neerukonda: International Institute of Information Technology
Meghashree Balaraj: International Institute of Information Technology
Aditya Singh: International Institute of Information Technology
Mark Graham: Oxford Internet Institute

The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 2025, vol. 68, issue 2, No 11, 569-587

Abstract: Abstract Institutional changes that have emphasised flexible labour markets and advances in technologies, have made digital platforms commonplace. As platforms mediate an increasing number of services, the dominant work opportunity they offer is gigs to independent contractors. Thanks to a power asymmetry between gig workers and platforms, and little regulatory control over gig work, the conditions of work are largely determined by platforms. Nevertheless, there is hope vested in the developmental possibilities of the platform economy through the gradual formalisation of gig work. This paper examines the possibilities and the tensions inherent to any formalisation by drawing on evidence from India, which has a large and rapidly growing platform economy.

Keywords: Platform economy; Gig work; Geographically tethered labour; Formal/informal labour; Flexibility; Fairness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J46 J81 J82 K31 M54 O17 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s41027-024-00522-4

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