Uber-Worked and Underpaid | Trebor Scholz | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Platform cooperativism offers a cooperative business model as an alternative to traditional platforms, aiming for worker and user ownership and democratic governance.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] TREBOR SCHOLZ: So in the next 40 minutes, I'm going to tell you a little bit about an emerging business model that I've been working on for the last three years together with literally hundreds of other people around the world. But before I go there, I want to start by sort of setting up a bit of a context for this work, which reall... Read More

Key Insights

• 🗯️ Platform cooperativism offers a solution to income inequality and worker rights issues in the gig economy.
• 👨‍💼 Local support and sustainable business practices are essential for the success of platform cooperatives.
• 🎚️ Policy changes at the municipal level can encourage the growth of platform cooperatives in various industries.
• 🌥️ Transitioning large companies into cooperatives may require specific regulations and mandates to ensure success.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can larger companies like Google transition into a cooperative model?

Transitioning large companies like Google into cooperatives would require policy changes and mandates, as seen in cases of anti-trust measures and specific regulations favoring cooperatives.

Q: What challenges do platform cooperatives face in competition with traditional platforms like Uber?

Platform cooperatives may face challenges in competing with VC-funded companies like Uber, but niche markets and industries where ethical alternatives are valued can provide opportunities for success.

Q: What features would be essential in a platform cooperativism kernel for effective development?

A platform cooperativism kernel would include worker and client-facing apps for iOS and Android, allowing for local customization to meet specific needs in different regions.

Q: How can policy changes at the municipal level support the growth of platform cooperatives?

Policy changes at the municipal level, such as revolving loan funds and town hall discussions, can create a supportive environment for platform cooperatives to flourish and compete with traditional monopolies.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Trebor Scholz discusses the emergence of platform cooperativism, highlighting the need for a shift towards cooperative models due to income inequality and worker rights issues.

• He points out the challenges faced by freelancers in the gig economy and the potential of platform cooperativism to address these issues.

• Scholz provides examples of successful platform cooperatives and emphasizes the importance of local support and sustainable business practices.