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Rethinking digital labour: A renewed critique moving beyond the exploitation paradigm

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  • Bingqing Xia

Abstract

A number of important topics, themes and concepts frequently recur in studies of digital labour over the past decade, such as exploitation, precarity, unpaid labour, gig economy and platform labour. The first generation of the critique has drawn on a variety of Marxist, post-structuralist and Weberian sources to question prevailing neo-liberal and centrist models centred on values of efficiency and the supposed empowerment of workers and users. While these topics, themes and concepts have been beneficial in establishing a basis for critique, there is a danger that they may become rather familiar and potentially even a little stale. Therefore, this article suggests a need to renew the critique of digital labour, as the digital realm stabilises around a set of key global players and platforms and as labour activists continue to face serious obstacles to success in an era of authoritarian populism. Here, I concentrate on introducing our themed collection surrounding a renewed critique moving beyond a dichotomy of exploitation and labour agency. I also encourage different disciplines to enrich and renew studies of digital labour. JEL Codes: H049; N35, Z13

Suggested Citation

  • Bingqing Xia, 2021. "Rethinking digital labour: A renewed critique moving beyond the exploitation paradigm," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 32(3), pages 311-321, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:32:y:2021:i:3:p:311-321
    DOI: 10.1177/10353046211038396
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Diane van den Broek, 2010. "From Terranova to Terra Firma: A Critique of the Role of Free Labour and the Digital Economy," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 20(2), pages 123-133, July.
    2. Mark Graham & Isis Hjorth & Vili Lehdonvirta, 2017. "Digital labour and development: impacts of global digital labour platforms and the gig economy on worker livelihoods," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 23(2), pages 135-162, May.
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    1. Anirban Dasgupta & Radhika Krishnan, 2025. "Digital Transformation and Labour: Locating Continuity and Change," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 68(2), pages 647-664, June.

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    JEL classification:

    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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