the.com/gig economy
capitalism discovers freelancing, slaps an app on it, calls it freedom.
means a labor market built on short-term contracts and app-mediated task work instead of stable jobs with benefits.
from gig meaning a single music performance job dates to 1920s jazz slang; economists borrowed it in the 2000s once apps like uber and taskrabbit turned everyone into a touring musician of errands.
coinedpopularized around 2009 recession, when jobs vanished
legal fightworker vs contractor status still litigated worldwide
no benefitsmost gig workers lack sick pay or pension