Labor formalization and digital platforms

Entrepreneurship and short-term rentals in Havana’s housing markets

Bibliographic Data

ID11670547
AuthorsRaúl Santiago-Bartolomei (0000-0002-5257-0959, University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume44
Issue8
Pages1654-1676
Publication date2022-10-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueUrban Geography (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0272-3638 • E-ISSN: 1938-2847
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02723638.2022.2125650
OpenAlexW4302292654
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited50

Despite shortcomings, economic formalization is still a sought-after set of policies expected to foster entrepreneurial activity among informal workers, in a way that would allow them to capitalize on their assets. The increasing presence of digital platform markets has moved enthusiastic governments and policy circles to seek new opportunities in the form of digital labor through platforms that reduce costs for the peer-to-peer exchange of good and services. I explore how digital platforms can disrupt labor formalization in traditional markets in Havana, Cuba, between 2015 and 2017, particularly how short-term rentals result in new dynamics among emerging landlords in short- and long-term rental markets. Through an in-depth qualitative approach to the informalities in digital platform markets, my findings suggest that the wedge between short-term and long-term rental landlords is defined by the social ties that determine the possibilities of market entry, resulting in greater economic and social inequities, rendering platform technologies as sources of disruption that could hinder the goals of economic formalization

Business · Economic growth · Economics · Entrepreneurship · Gentrification · Labour economics · Political science · Renting · Sharing economy · Term (time · Digital Economy and Work Transformation · Sharing Economy and Platforms · Taxation and Compliance Studies · Finance

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