Who Benefits from Online Gig Economy Platforms?

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Stanton, Christopher T.; Thomas, Catherine
• 署名单位: Harvard University; National Bureau of Economic Research; Centre for Economic Policy Research - UK; University of London; London School Economics & Political Science
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20221189
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 1857-1895
• 关键词: labor; search

摘要

Online labor platforms for short-term remote work have many more job seekers than available jobs. Despite their relative abundance, workers capture a substantial share of the surplus from transactions. We draw this conclusion from demand estimates that imply workers' wages include significant markups over costs and a survey that validates our surplus estimates. Workers retain a significant share of the surplus because demand-side search frictions and worker differentiation reduce direct competition. Finally, we show that applying traditional employment regulations to online gig economy platforms would lower job posting and hiring rates, reducing aggregate surplus for all market participants, including workers