The study used for this article can be found here: https://scholar.harvard.edu/lkatz/publications/understanding-trends-alternative-work-arrangements-united-sta

The study used for this article can be found here: https://scholar.harvard.edu/lkatz/publications/understanding-trends-alternative-work-arrangements-united-states https://scholar.harvard.edu/lkatz/publications/understanding... "Gig Economy" is a new label on an old practice. Take, for instance, nurse staffing in the United States. In unregulated, non-unionized states, nurses are staffed as-needed. Hospital administrators partner with nursing agencies, who manage relationships with nurses and contract short-term work. This market of nurses enables work-life flexibility and pays fairly well. Yet, the costs and risks continue to rise for nurses. If hospital census (# of patients) is low, shifts are cancelled up to minutes before work is scheduled to begin. Further, hospital administrators have dramatically increased the burden on nurses, increasing nurse-to-patient coverage and demanded more and more of them without assistance. Staffed nurses play the role of scapegoats, too, blaming them for mistakes and shifting risk from the hospital. There are more problems and risks for staffed nurses than ever. Yet, despite its Gig-like behavior, nurse staffing seems to elude journalists and academics. This is only one example. There are others. Again, the gig economy isn't a new phenomenon. It's just spreading to other sectors now because of technology innovation. We must learn what works well and what doesn't, for all involved parties. Academics and journalists are thus far failing to learn what works by ignoring legacy business activities.