New Opportunities in the Platform Economy: On-ramps to Formalization in the Global South

By Gregory Randolph and Hernan Galperin

Abstract

As the platform economy expands at exponential rates, policymakers in the Global South have a unique opportunity to translate the aggregation of workers through digital platforms into a more formalized labor market – with both opportunities for revenue collection and higher quality employment. Realizing this opportunity requires a collaborative ‘co-regulation’ approach, with information-sharing between governments and firms; updated systems of labor market data collection; development of context-appropriate categories of employment; and proactive approaches to taxation and social protection provision.