Конкурентные стратегии фрилансеров старшего возраста на электронных трудовых платформах

Мониторинг общественного мнения: Экономические и социальные перемены. 2022. № 2(168). С. 207–222.

Kartuzova M.

The article analyzes the behavioral strategies of older freelancers, aimed at helping them to compete with younger workers at the digital labor platforms. On such platforms, the self-employed offer their services mostly for one-time jobs for a monetary reward and within the framework moderated and supported by an information system using computer algorithms. This system can be seen as a kind of “showcase”: on the one hand, we have standardized questionnaires of service providers (with a description of their skills and previous experience, a portfolio with reviews, a range of tasks performed), and on the other hand, customer requests for certain works. Empirically, the study bases on the materials of 20 semi-structured interviews with self-employed people aged 50 to 73 living in Russia. Our informants earn a living by tutoring, translating, writing diplomas, creating and promoting websites, as well as selling photo materials for stock sites. Based on the results of the analysis of semi-structured interviews, the author identifies and discusses several categories, namely, the perception of competition on the platform through the prism of the age of a freelancer and the concepts of a strategy leading to obtaining an order: an inventory of one's own accumulated human capital, "spying on ideas" from younger providers, and forming a pool of regular customers in order to refuse from further use of the digital platform.

Keywords: пенсионеры, фрилансеры, самозанятость, freelancers, espionage, retirees, older age, конкурентная разведка, self-employment, digital labor platform, цифровые трудовые платформы, старший возраст