The working class goes to the cyberspace. Platform capitalism beyond the myths of digitization

Journal title ECONOMIA E SOCIETÀ REGIONALE
Author/s Marco Marrone, Gianmarco Peterlongo, Giorgio Pirina
Publishing Year 2021 Issue 2021/1
Language Italian Pages 25 P. 127-151 File size 372 KB
DOI 10.3280/ES2021-001011
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This paper will try to highlight the increasing diffusion of the "myths" of digitization moving from a review of the literature recently formed around platform capitalism. In particular, it will be underlined how the idea of a dematerialized, automated, democratized and ecologically sustainable economy not only fails to grasp the real extent of the transformations taking place, but is functional to allow the increase of the exploitation of labor and nature for which digitization is responsible. Empirical evidence shows that the reality of the transformations taking place is that of an economy increasingly populated by a variety of different geographical contexts, employment conditions and modes of production that are often obscured by narratives promoted by platforms. Therefore, rethinking the boundaries of digitization seems necessary not only to disarticulate its "myths", but also lies at the basis of a possible transformation of its outcomes.

Keywords: Digital Labor, Automation, Socio-materiality, Infrastructures, Ecology

Jel codes: D83, E26, O33

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Marco Marrone, Gianmarco Peterlongo, Giorgio Pirina, La classe operaia va nel cyberspazio. Il capitalismo di piattaforma oltre i miti della digitalizzazione in "ECONOMIA E SOCIETÀ REGIONALE " 1/2021, pp 127-151, DOI: 10.3280/ES2021-001011