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Gangs and the Gig Economy: Triads, Precarity and Illicit Work in Hong Kong

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  • Alistair Fraser
  • Karen Joe-Laidler

Abstract

Paid employment in the criminal economy is, in many ways, the essence of precarious labour yet to date criminological work on the so-called ‘gig economy’ is scarce. Here we apply emergent sociological literature on ‘post-Fordist’ working cultures to precarious youth employment in Hong Kong, arguing: (1) recent reorganizations of labour markets towards flexible entrepreneurship are mirrored in the illicit economy; (2) a shift in structural features of triad gangs has led to a parallel form of ‘network sociality’; and (3) triad-affiliated youth remained rooted in place-based ‘communities of practice’ that form a point of difference from existing theory. In concluding, we reflect on the implications of these arguments for the study of illicit economies, triads and post-Fordist working cultures.

Suggested Citation

  • Alistair Fraser & Karen Joe-Laidler, 2024. "Gangs and the Gig Economy: Triads, Precarity and Illicit Work in Hong Kong," The British Journal of Criminology, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, vol. 64(1), pages 139-156.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:crimin:v:64:y:2024:i:1:p:139-156.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/bjc/azad018
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