Measuring Strategic Behavior by Gig Economy Workers: Multihoming and Repositioning

Daniel Chen, PhD Candidate, The Wharton School

Abstract: Gig economy workers make strategic decisions about where and when to work. We empirically measure two types of strategic behavior: multihoming, an online change between platforms, and repositioning, a physical change between locations. Using a structural model, we show that workers are highly heterogenous in their preferences for both multihoming and repositioning. We provide counterfactual estimates on the effects of proposed firm and regulatory policies aimed at multihoming and repositioning.