The Digital Transformation of Labor: Automation, the Gig Economy and Welfare
London; New York: Routledge (2020), xxii, 349 pp.
Contains figures, tables, index
Series: Routledge Studies in Labour Economics
ISBN 978-0-429-31786-6 (pdf); 978-0-367-33070-5 (hbk)
"This book takes its point of departure from a 2016 OECD report that contends that the impact digitalization has on the future of labor is ambiguous, as on the one hand it is suggested that technological change is labor-saving, but on the other hand, it is suggested that digital technologies have not created new jobs on a scale that it replaces old jobs. Another 2018 OECD report indicated that digitalization and automation as such does not pose a real risk of destroying any significant number of jobs for the foreseeable future, although tasks would by and large change significantly. This would affect welfare, as most of its revenue stems from taxation, and particularly so from the taxation on labor (directly or indirectly). For this reason, this book will set out to explore how the future technological and societal advancements impact labor conditions. The book seeks to provide an innovative, enriching and controversial take on how
various aspects of the labor market can be (and are) affected by the ongoing digitalization trend in a way that is not covered by extant literature." (Publisher description)
various aspects of the labor market can be (and are) affected by the ongoing digitalization trend in a way that is not covered by extant literature." (Publisher description)
1 A journey of a thousand miles: an introduction to the digitalization of labor / Anthony Larsson, 1
PART I: PRACTICAL UTILIZATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES, 13
2 Behind the history of labor: technology as the driving force / Alexander Bard, Jan Söderqvist and Anthony Larsson, 15
3 The substitution of labor: from technological feasibility to other factors influencing the potential of job automation / Jochem van der Zande, Karoline Teigland, Shahryar Siri and Robin Teigland, 31
4 Minimum wages for online labor platforms? Regulating the global gig economy / Alex J. Wood, Mark Graham and Mohammad Amir Anwar, 74
5 The digital disruption of science: governments and scientists toward an “Open Science” / Antoine Maire, 80
6 Black boxes of cognitive computers and the impact on labor markets / Victor Erik Bernhardtz, 100
7 AI leadership and the future of corporate governance: changing demands for board competence / Fernanda Torre, Robin Teigland and Liselotte Engstam, 116
PART II: THE ROLE OF THE DIGITAL WELFARE STATE, 147
8 Polarization, tax revenue and the welfare state: digital disruption or still standing strong? / Mårten Blix, 149
9 Welfare states and digitalization / Bent Greve, 163
10 “Gig patients”: health and dental care in the gig economy / Anthony Larsson and Dominika Sabolová, 174
PART III: DIGITAL DISRUPTION OF STATUS QUO, 185
11 GDPR: what are the risks and who benefits? / Anthony Larsson and Pernilla Lilja, 187
12 Players for hire: games and the future of low-skill work / Edward Castronova, 200
13 The global gig economy: toward a planetary labor market / Mark Graham and Mohammad Amir Anwar, 213
14 Identifying the digital gender divide: how digitalization may affect the future working conditions for women / Anthony Larsson and Yamit Viitaoja, 235
15 Consulting in the digital era? The role of tomorrow’s management consultants / Anthony Larsson, Nicole Andersson, Peter Markowski, Malin Nilsson and Ivy Mayor, 254
16 Digitalization, circular economy and the future of labor: how circular economy and digital transformation can affect labor / Anthony Larsson and Linn Lindfred, 280
PART IV: CONCLUSION, 317
17 Conclusion: the digital transformation of labor – where do we go from here? / Anthony Larsson, 319
Afterword: impact of digitalization on employment and working conditions / John Øvretveit, 334
PART I: PRACTICAL UTILIZATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES, 13
2 Behind the history of labor: technology as the driving force / Alexander Bard, Jan Söderqvist and Anthony Larsson, 15
3 The substitution of labor: from technological feasibility to other factors influencing the potential of job automation / Jochem van der Zande, Karoline Teigland, Shahryar Siri and Robin Teigland, 31
4 Minimum wages for online labor platforms? Regulating the global gig economy / Alex J. Wood, Mark Graham and Mohammad Amir Anwar, 74
5 The digital disruption of science: governments and scientists toward an “Open Science” / Antoine Maire, 80
6 Black boxes of cognitive computers and the impact on labor markets / Victor Erik Bernhardtz, 100
7 AI leadership and the future of corporate governance: changing demands for board competence / Fernanda Torre, Robin Teigland and Liselotte Engstam, 116
PART II: THE ROLE OF THE DIGITAL WELFARE STATE, 147
8 Polarization, tax revenue and the welfare state: digital disruption or still standing strong? / Mårten Blix, 149
9 Welfare states and digitalization / Bent Greve, 163
10 “Gig patients”: health and dental care in the gig economy / Anthony Larsson and Dominika Sabolová, 174
PART III: DIGITAL DISRUPTION OF STATUS QUO, 185
11 GDPR: what are the risks and who benefits? / Anthony Larsson and Pernilla Lilja, 187
12 Players for hire: games and the future of low-skill work / Edward Castronova, 200
13 The global gig economy: toward a planetary labor market / Mark Graham and Mohammad Amir Anwar, 213
14 Identifying the digital gender divide: how digitalization may affect the future working conditions for women / Anthony Larsson and Yamit Viitaoja, 235
15 Consulting in the digital era? The role of tomorrow’s management consultants / Anthony Larsson, Nicole Andersson, Peter Markowski, Malin Nilsson and Ivy Mayor, 254
16 Digitalization, circular economy and the future of labor: how circular economy and digital transformation can affect labor / Anthony Larsson and Linn Lindfred, 280
PART IV: CONCLUSION, 317
17 Conclusion: the digital transformation of labor – where do we go from here? / Anthony Larsson, 319
Afterword: impact of digitalization on employment and working conditions / John Øvretveit, 334
