Autonomy vs. Reality in Platforms

On the gig economy, big tech, and ideology.

Sociologist Will Charles talks to Alex about a form of social organisation that has stopped trying to justify itself.

• How should the gig economy work and how does it actually work?

• Is any worker in this economy a 'true believer'?

• Why isn't digital sophistication a proof of economic efficiency?

• What's the relationship between secular stagnation, value capture, and rentierism?

• Do workers hold to a latent moral economy that could provide the basis for revolt?

Full episode for subscribers only. Sign up: patreon.com/bungacast

Readings:

• Muskism and the Myth of Productive Revolution, Will Charles

• Post-Legitimate Society, Will Charles & Ryan Gunderson

• Muskism Is the Specter Stalking Our Present, Alex Hochuli, Jacobin

Relevant episodes:

• /538/ Muskism ft. Quinn Slobodian & Ben Tarnoff 

• /522/ At the Bottom of the Tar Pit ft. Benjamin Studebaker

• /540/ Welcome to the Apolar and Post-Multilateral World ft. Tom Chodor

• /546/ Reading Club: Are We All Post-Liberal Now? ft. Geoff Shullenberger

• /547/ What Are the Politics of Stagnation? ft. Dylan Riley