Driving the digital value network: Economic geographies of global platform capitalism

Kelle Howson; Fabian Ferrari; Funda Ustek-Spilda; Nancy Salem; Hannah Johnston; Srujana Katta; Richard Heeks; Mark Graham

doi:10.1111/glob.12358

Driving the digital value network: Economic geographies of global platform capitalism

Kelle Howson^*, Fabian Ferrari, Funda Ustek-Spilda, Nancy Salem, Hannah Johnston, Srujana Katta, Richard Heeks, Mark Graham

^*Corresponding author for this work

Digital Humanities

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Abstract

This paper applies insights from global value chains (GVC)/global production networks (GPN) frameworks to explore the economic geographies brought into being by digital labour platforms. In particular, these perspectives facilitate analyses of power imbalances and value extraction across territories—an under-theorized aspect within platform studies. We theorize this dynamic by introducing the descriptor ‘digital value network’ (DVN): a digitally mediated nexus of platform operations that produce and distribute value between territories, on the basis of labour transactions. Empirically, we draw on a multi-year action research project, assessing the operations of platforms and the experiences of platform workers in 54 countries. Our analysis highlights that platforms as lead firms extend GVC/GPN logics of coordination and drivenness in DVN to (i) optimize production capabilities while externalizing ownership and costs, (ii) accumulate both monetary and non-monetary forms of value, and (iii) concentrate power at the global scale in both existing and new sectors.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	631-648
Journal	Global Networks
Volume	22
Issue number	4
Early online date	28 Dec 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/glob.12358
Publication status	Published - Oct 2022

Keywords

global value chains
global production networks
gig economy
platform economy
digital labour platforms

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Driving the digital value_HOWSON_Publishedonline28December2021_GOLD_VoR (CC BY)Final published version, 390 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Driving the digital value network: Economic geographies of global platform capitalism",

abstract = "This paper applies insights from global value chains (GVC)/global production networks (GPN) frameworks to explore the economic geographies brought into being by digital labour platforms. In particular, these perspectives facilitate analyses of power imbalances and value extraction across territories—an under-theorized aspect within platform studies. We theorize this dynamic by introducing the descriptor {\textquoteleft}digital value network{\textquoteright} (DVN): a digitally mediated nexus of platform operations that produce and distribute value between territories, on the basis of labour transactions. Empirically, we draw on a multi-year action research project, assessing the operations of platforms and the experiences of platform workers in 54 countries. Our analysis highlights that platforms as lead firms extend GVC/GPN logics of coordination and drivenness in DVN to (i) optimize production capabilities while externalizing ownership and costs, (ii) accumulate both monetary and non-monetary forms of value, and (iii) concentrate power at the global scale in both existing and new sectors.",

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AU - Ustek-Spilda, Funda

AU - Salem, Nancy

AU - Johnston, Hannah

AU - Katta, Srujana

AU - Heeks, Richard

AU - Graham, Mark

PY - 2022/10

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AB - This paper applies insights from global value chains (GVC)/global production networks (GPN) frameworks to explore the economic geographies brought into being by digital labour platforms. In particular, these perspectives facilitate analyses of power imbalances and value extraction across territories—an under-theorized aspect within platform studies. We theorize this dynamic by introducing the descriptor ‘digital value network’ (DVN): a digitally mediated nexus of platform operations that produce and distribute value between territories, on the basis of labour transactions. Empirically, we draw on a multi-year action research project, assessing the operations of platforms and the experiences of platform workers in 54 countries. Our analysis highlights that platforms as lead firms extend GVC/GPN logics of coordination and drivenness in DVN to (i) optimize production capabilities while externalizing ownership and costs, (ii) accumulate both monetary and non-monetary forms of value, and (iii) concentrate power at the global scale in both existing and new sectors.

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KW - global production networks

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Driving the digital value network: Economic geographies of global platform capitalism

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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