THE IMPACT OF DIGITALIZATION AND GIG ECONOMY ON RURAL WORKFORCE MOBILITY: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES — A META-SYNTHESIS
Keywords:
Rural Gig Economy, Digital Inclusion, Gender and Labor, Human Capital Theory, Platform WorkAbstract
This article presents a meta-synthesis of the rural gig economy in developing countries through a digital labor lens. It identifies key moderating factors—digital infrastructure, education, gender norms, and policy environments—that shape differential access and outcomes in rural digital labor markets. Drawing on comparative insights from India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sub-Saharan Africa, the study finds that while digital platforms offer new work opportunities, they simultaneously reinforce existing inequalities. The discussion integrates Human Capital Theory, Institutional Theory, the Digital Divide, and the Capability Approach to provide a multidimensional framework for understanding these dynamics. The analysis highlights labor precarity, digital segmentation, and ethical concerns surrounding gig work, calling for inclusive policy reforms. This conceptual synthesis represents a novel contribution by offering a multidimensional framework for analyzing rural gig economy dynamics in developing contexts.
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