Gig Workers and Policies of Minimal Social Dislocation

Abstract

My analysis of the process of digital “platformization” of economies is framed in Thorstein Veblen’s theory of economic evolution and John R. Commons’ concept of reasonableness. I conclude that digital platformization of economies is rooted in a deliberately decided liberalization of markets. The consequences of liberalization require a fundamental revision of economic policy and socio-economic institutions if one wants to create permanent jobs with good social security provisions, and/or to establish reasonable income/wealth differentials.