ABSTRACT
The advent of the gig economy has disrupted established thought regarding work and working relationships. However, for many commentators the gig economy is just the latest step in the move away from traditional forms of labour. In this chapter we consider the rise of contingent labour arrangements in the context of the emergence of the gig economy. We explain why gig working may be considered a novel form of contingent labour by calling attention to several distinctive features, in particular the role of platform organisations as digital intermediaries in the exchange relationship. Additionally, in the interests of better understanding the nuances of working arrangements in this fast-moving domain, we distinguish three variants of gig work: app-work; crowdwork; and capital platform work.
