What will be the possible impact of sharing platforms on the labour market?

Abstract

The creation and usage of digital platforms is not only increasing in the private sector but also in the public one. There is much contention about the impact of digitalization on employment, social structures, public policies, as well as on entrepreneurial initiative and business. Although some early reviews opposed the imposition of heavy regulation on the platform economy, these days some jurisdictions take a more interventionist approach to stem the tide of digitalization which appears to thrive in legal vacuum giving rise to unequal competition. The findings suggest that platforms exert much influence on the employment structures, giving rise to cohorts of precariat and gig workers, resulting in unequal distribution of wealth. In this work the author concentrates on the revolutionary impact of sharing platforms on society, labour market and its structure, as well as legal norms that call for comprehensive revision in order to maintain welfare in the changing environment. As this paper remains fairly conceptual, the author attempts at an indication of major trends which are likely to emerge in society, and a contest of the idea of unharnessed development of sharing platforms.