Well-being and Productivity of Gig-Economy Workers in the UK and South Korea

英国和韩国零工经济工人的福祉和生产力

• 批准号: ES/W010666/2
• 负责人: Sarah Park
• 金额: $ 2.17万
• 依托单位: University of Leicester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ES%2FW010666%2F2
• 关键词: Well; being; Productivity; Gig; Economy

Gig economy workers are independent contractors, or "micro entrepreneurs", who provide services via apps. Work in the gig economy is increasingly commonplace, and expected to grow exponentially in the near future. It is also more and more prevalent in both the British and Korean economy, with millions of people in both countries regularly performing gig work. Despite the growing relevance of the gig economy, little is known about the well-being and productivity of gig economy workers. While there seem to be positive implications of gig work, such as increased worker flexibility, it is also associated with a range of negative consequences, such as decreased job security or lower income. This grant will enable a team of researchers from Britain and South Korea to develop a series of cross-cultural research projects on well-being and productivity of gig economy workers in both countries. First, we seek to elucidate how gig economy workers in the UK and South Korea conceptualise well-being. We also seek to better understand what job-related factors drive or undermine the well-being of gig economy workers. The relative importance of these factors may differ between Korea and Britain. The well-being of gig economy workers may have a significant impact on productivity. Second, we seek to understand the strategies gig economy workers develop to cope with job-related challenges and improve their well-being. Gig workers from Korea and Britain may not only conceptualise wellbeing differently, but also differ with regard to the strategies they use to mitigate job-related challenges and maintain individual productivity. Third, we seek to develop our understanding of the country-level factors (e.g. culture, labour market regulations and government responses to COVID-19) which may impact the well-being of gig economy workers. These differences may lead to diverse responses in terms of gig worker wellbeing between both countries. Through a series of research projects and events relating to well-being and productivity of gig economy workers, we aim to establish and develop a long-term relationship between investigators in the UK and South Korea. This network of investigators will host and participate in a strategic set of events in both countries. By visiting universities and government institutes in South Korea and carrying out events collaboratively, we will raise the profile of UK scholars and institutions within the Korean research community. Internationally, research workshops, research seminars and conferences will enable knowledge exchange between leading international academics, practitioners and other stakeholders, enabling a sharing of experiences and pursuit of shared goals such as better understanding of well-being of gig economy workers. The network will also give opportunities to postgraduate research students and early career researchers to present or discuss their research and receive feedback.We will not only enrich academic conversations on gig economy workers, but also develop conversation between academics and practitioners on gig economy work in both countries. Research in the area of gig economy is more recent compared to other areas of management research. The network will thus provide a significant means to build and consolidate national capacity in this important area. Furthermore, we aim to develop policy implications which may be for relevant local authorities, governments, international organisations and other stakeholders. The impact of our projects will benefit from the complementary expertise and contacts of its members, especially through the involvement of a government policy institute, who will be active in disseminating potential implications to their national governments and stakeholders, leading to meaningful impact. Our projects may also provide support for developing UK policy for the gig economy based on knowledge, experiences and recommendations gained from the Korean gig economy context.

零工经济工人是独立承包商或通过应用程序提供服务的“微型企业家”。在零工经济中的工作越来越普遍，预计将在不久的将来成倍增长。在英国和韩国经济中，这也越来越普遍，两国有数百万人定期进行演出。尽管零工经济的相关性越来越大，但对零工经济工人的福祉和生产力知之甚少。虽然演出工作似乎有积极的含义，例如工人的灵活性提高，但它也与一系列负面后果有关，例如工作安全性下降或收入降低。这项赠款将使来自英国和韩国的研究人员团队能够开发一系列有关两国经济工作者的福祉和生产力的跨文化研究项目。首先，我们试图阐明英国和韩国的零工经济工作者如何概念化福祉。我们还试图更好地了解哪些与工作相关的因素驱动或破坏了零工经济工人的福祉。这些因素的相对重要性在韩国和英国之间可能有所不同。零工经济工作者的福祉可能会对生产率产生重大影响。其次，我们试图了解策略的经济工人发展以应对与工作相关的挑战并改善他们的福祉。来自韩国和英国的演出工人不仅可以概念化良好的福祉，而且在减轻与工作相关的挑战并保持个人生产力的策略方面也有所不同。第三，我们试图发展对国家级因素的理解（例如文化，劳动力市场法规和政府对COVID-19的反应），这可能会影响零工经济工人的福祉。这些差异可能会导致两国的演出工人福祉的各种反应。通过一系列与经济工作者的福祉和生产力有关的研究项目和事件，我们旨在建立和发展英国和韩国调查人员之间的长期关系。这个调查人员网络将主持并参加两国的一系列战略活动。通过访问韩国的大学和政府机构并进行共同开展活动，我们将提高韩国研究社区中英国学者和机构的形象。在国际上，研究研讨会，研究研讨会和会议将使领先的国际学者，从业者和其他利益相关者之间的知识交流，从而可以共享经验和追求共同的目标，例如更好地了解对零工经济工作者的幸福感。该网络还将为研究生研究专业的研究生和早期职业研究人员提供机会，介绍或讨论他们的研究并收到反馈。我们不仅会丰富有关零工经济工作者的学术对话，而且还将在两国就零工经济工作进行学者与从业人员之间的对话。与其他管理研究领域相比，在零工经济领域进行的研究更新。因此，该网络将提供一种重要的手段，以建立和巩固该重要领域的国家能力。此外，我们旨在制定可能对相关地方当局，政府，国际组织和其他利益相关者的政策影响。我们项目的影响将受益于其成员的补充专业知识和联系，尤其是通过政府政策研究所的参与，他们将积极地传播对其国家政府和利益相关者的潜在影响，从而产生有意义的影响。我们的项目还可以根据知识，经验和从韩国零工经济环境中获得的知识，经验和建议为制定英国政策提供支持。