In
Network Market, Fisher writes about markets becoming increasingly disembedded
from society, which is part of a broader social transformation from Fordism to
post-Fordism, dominated by two trends: marketization and disorganization (Fisher,
2009). This blog post is particularly concerned with marketization, which involves
“the increasing dominance and scope of markets in social life” (Fisher, 2009). Here, Fisher is referring to the fluidity idea of
hyper flexibility, which is essentially the idea that people can make their own
hours and that the traditional 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. job is on the decline. As
a result, the markets that we are working in have become increasingly tied to
social life as well, as there is an increasingly blurred line between the
definition of work life and social life. Fisher also writes about
methodological individualism, which suggests the idea that all actions are
performed by individuals, and that the analysis of social reality must therefore
start from individuals (Fisher, 2009). This means that it is important for us
as individuals to be in precarious unstable networks, as it causes us to engage
in a perpetual discovery, wherein individuals are constantly looking to seek
out new ways of doing things, rather than settling into a routine. In this
sense, precarious unstable networks are necessary, as we must adapt to keep up
with the ways of the social changing world, if not, then we will fall behind. This
relates to the conversations regarding the increasingly precarious nature of
today’s labor force, which has come up time and again throughout this semester.
We have discussed Uber as a form of precarious labor. Airbnb is another good
example. Attached is a recent article from the Globe and Mail with regards to
earning money in the sharing economy, specifically through Uber and Airbnb. I
found it to be a very interesting and relevant article, especially as it is
highlights some of the issues surrounding the risky nature of today’s
workforce.
My question
for you guys is, do you know anyone that has earned
money as an Uber driver or by renting their home, or part of it, through Airbnb?
If not, would you ever consider them as a possible money making opportunity? Why or why not?
Fisher,
Eran. Media and New Capitalism in the
Digital Age: The Spirit of the Networks. New york: Palgrave MacMillan,
2010.
Personally I would not want to work in unstable networks such as employment as an Uber driver or offering my house or a room in my house through AirBnb. This is specifically due to the articles I've read on the topic of Uber and how many Uber drivers have confessed that what they make is actually not as much as you would think. After factoring in the gas, wear on your vehicle and the money the actual company gets, many drivers complain that it could possibly not be beneficial financially.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting story with an Uber driver is how a Toronto driver ended up in Guelph through driving a customer, but would then have to drive himself back to Toronto (thus, having to pay for his own gas in order to get home). So with the likely possibility that I could lose more than I could gain and the many issues beginning to be discussed I would not consider this as a possible money making opportunity for myself.
I do know someone who is an Uber driver. This service is a current Grey area in Canada and raised the public's attention as Taxi drivers business is beginning to dwindle. These jobs are high risk and offer profits when in demand. For example Uber, during peak hours allows drivers to charge up to 2.5 times the regular fare. In this case the consumer has no choice but to pay these high rates if they want to use the service. Where risk is involved in earning money through one of these methods is as Victoria pointed out, the costs that are involved in attempting to make money through these jobs. Drivers have to pay for the fuel and costs associated with running their vehicle before they are able to charge customers. Often minimal profit is made as the money that is made is used to cover the costs associated with this money making opportunity.
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