The Brookings Institute thinks it has found a way to measure the impact of the expanding 'gig economy'—i.e., freelancing work enabled by online platforms like Airbnb and Uber.
Ian Hathaway and Mark Muro author a post examining the proliferation of the so-called gig economy in cities around the country. Despite so much attention paid to apps like Airbnb, Uber, and more, writes Hathaway and Muro, "it’s still hard to get a handle on the size and importance of either those particular platforms or the larger 'gig economy.'"
"However, it turns out that for all of the limitations of the available data, additional light can in fact be thrown on the online gig economy," according to the article. To do so, Hathaway and Muro called on "an obscure Census Bureau dataset on 'nonemployer firms,' which tracks the activity of 'businesses' that earn at least $1,000 per year in gross revenues (or $1 in construction) but employ no workers."
The findings of their analysis reveal a significant and fast growing gig economy, specifically in peer-to-peer ride-sharing and peer-to-peer room-sharing. Another finding of their analysis: "platform-based freelancing is not yet substantially displacing payroll employment," though the authors admit that could change. Finally, their analysis finds that online gigging is mostly concentrated in urban areas.
The article includes a lot more detail and some very nifty infographics to help illustrate its points.
Read the full story: Tracking the gig economy: New numbers
Ride-Hail Drivers Strike Today. Will Riders Boycott?
Uber is expected to be valued at $91 billion for an Initial Public Offering this spring. Initial investors will get rich. Drivers won't get much.
Job Losses Strike a Blow to Gig Economy Darlings
Uber and Airbnb both announced massive layoffs this week, after Lyft did the same last week, as the coronavirus pandemic took a toll on very contemporary corners of the economy.
How Cities Are Regulating the Sharing Economy
Compiled from interviews conducted with city officials, this National League of Cities report gives us a regulator's-eye-view of the sharing economy. Among the topics discussed are equity, taxation, and data transparency.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement
The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.
Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion
Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.
Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet
Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.
NYC DOT wants faster, more permanent street upgrades
The city is examining ways to build more concrete infrastructure without getting entangled in 'decades-long' projects.
'Something we’ve never seen before:' rising utility rates could strain city finances nationwide
Data centers, climate change and other factors have caused utility rates in the United States to increase by 38% since 2020.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello