Abstract

Employment in the gig economy has grown significantly in recent years. While flexible and independent working arrangements are highlighted as advantages of the industry, there is also criticism regarding working conditions, particularly with regards to wages, job stability, and ensuring safe working conditions. This project examines how the presence of the gig economy is changing working conditions not only within the industry, but in the labor market as a whole. We exploit the gradual expansion of gig economy firms, particularly food delivery and transportation services, in Germany to compare regions in which gig economy firms are already active with those where they are not yet active. Outcome variables that are of interest include wages and employment in directly and indirectly comparable industries (e.g. restaurants and occupations with low skill requirements, respectively), job stability, and wage inequality across the region.