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People are "quitting" but the yr/yr graphs on participation growth don't go below zero? I'm not through the whole thing, yet, but we're off to a bad start

• diminoten 10y ago
  Yeah, the headline isn't supported by the article. Another way of looking at these numbers is that the unsustainable explosive growth the "gig economy" saw early on was just that, unsustainable and explosive initial growth. The "mere" ~100% YoY growth for labor platforms is still incredible, and time will tell if that continues to drop. The article avoids talking about what the "gig economy" would need to sustain itself, but it's entirely possible it doesn't need to grow nearly this fast to still be completely viable.
  • dragonwriter 10y ago
    Decelerating growth while still being unsustainable because it's VC-subsidized raises serious questions of whether there is a self-sustaining business underneath; the main advantage "gig economy" firms have over competing established incumbents is willingness to spend VC money and test the limits of the law, but once the law is either adjusted or settled through disputes and VCs want to see returns rather than pouring in more subsidies in hopes of future growth, both of those advantages go away and they end up in competitive markets without a moat.