Using blockchain or not? An evolutionary game theoretic model to address trust, reputation, and pricing in gig economy platforms

The gig economy has experienced exponential growth in recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this sector continues to grapple with challenges related to trust, security, and payment convenience. Existing distrust often arises from concerns about work quality, intellectual property rights, confidentiality, and the reliability of freelancers. Blockchain technology presents a promising solution to these issues by enhancing information transparency. Despite its potential, research gaps persist, as the impacts of blockchain technology on gig economy platforms have not been comprehensively explored. This study innovatively integrates blockchain technology with an evolutionary game theory framework to address critical issues such as distrust, reputation, quality assurance, and project pricing within gig economy platforms, with a focus on improving information transparency. By modeling the strategic interactions between freelancers and platforms as both single-population and two-population evolutionary games, the research highlights how blockchain-based platforms can foster trust, enhance reputation, and ensure transparency. These factors collectively empower freelancers to participate in projects with greater confidence and motivate them to deliver high-quality work.