The Experiences Literature Review

From our definition of platform livelihoods, and drawing on a detailed literature review of 75 studies of platform livelihoods in the global South, we address three broad questions for the digital development community:

1. What are the experiences of people with platform livelihoods?

 

2. What are similarities and differences between platform livelihood types?

 

3. What kinds of technologies and business models support platform livelihoods?

 
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1. What are the experiences of people with platform livelihoods?

We identify twelve  elements—the kinds of experiences that individuals share and value when discussing their livelihoods with friends, family, and even the occasional researcher. They are a mix of economic, subjective, and broader human development experiences. Explore them below.

Are there income generating opportunities for those who want them?
Is there a fair return for time and assets applied?
Can people work and sell, when and where they want?
Do people feel they are treated with dignity and respect?
Can anyone pursue this livelihood?
Are people healthy and safe when pursuing this livelihood?
Can people learn and advance?
How is the space between employment & self-employment experienced?
Are people in this together?
How do others view platform livelihoods?
What mark does the work leave on the world?
Is it important to be one’s own boss?

2. What are similarities and differences between platform livelihood types?

We offer a landscape of nine illustrative types of platform livelihood. Note that these are roles that individuals or small enterprises can fill, rather than “business models” or the names of specific platforms. 

These are not the only roles that platforms are transforming or enabling, but these nine represent enough of the diversity in platform livelihoods to make two key distinctions. These types mix local and global (digital only) markets.  Some of these roles are for individuals seeking work and offering their labor. Some of these roles are for small enterprises and even small farms, looking for new sales channels and new ways to connect with markets.  

The early research and policy literature has been concentrated in platform work, especially ride-hailing, freelancing, and microwork, but in the longer run, platform sales (whether via marketplaces, social commerce, or search and discovery) may end up altering the livelihoods of a greater number of people around the world. 

Learn more about this platform livelihood type.
Learn more about this platform livelihood type.
Learn more about this platform livelihood type.
Learn more about this platform livelihood type.
Learn more about this platform livelihood type.
Learn more about this platform livelihood type.
Learn more about this platform livelihood type.
Learn more about this platform livelihood type.

3. What are the crosscutting themes throughout these experiences and types of livelihoods?

By providing a common language framework and a map of several kinds of platform livelihoods, this framework can help uncover many trends and cross cutting issues. For example, in this first iteration of the literature review we used the framework to explore four durable themes: gender, rurality, youth, and COVID-19.  We also outline four emergent dynamics worthy of scrutiny: fractional work, amplification, hidden hierarchies, and contestation.  

We hope that you might and use this framework in your own research, design, or policymaking activities. All the materials in this framework are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International.  We ask only that you provide attribution if this turns out to be useful to your research.  

Gender interacts with all of the core elements introduced in the platform livelihoods experience framework.
Though a central issue in development, it’s too early for evidence about rural platform livelihoods.
A new way of working?
Some thrive. Most suffer.
For some a choice for others a necessity. For all, a major distinction between what one needs from the work.
Platforms set the rules, but workers and sellers push back.
How some do well while others fall behind.
How many workers and sellers are there? And how many have bosses we can’t see?

See other Studies

We’ve been busy researching multiple sectors (freelancing, ride-hailing, social commerce, nanostores, asset sharing, etc) and all the elements (working, trading, renting, and creating) that are found within it. Check out our other studies to learn more.

Studies

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