Join us for the annual Economics Alumni Webinar on April 8, at 7:00 p.m. ET to hear a brief talk by Emilie Jackson, Ph.D., assistant professor, on her research; and a chance for Q&A.

Topic: Is the Gig Economy the future of work?

Description: The ‘Gig Economy’ or ‘Online Platform Economy’ (think platforms such as Uber, Instacart, Task Rabbit, etc.) have introduced a new form of work opportunities and become more widespread in the last decade. With the introduction of these new types of work arrangements, many speculated that the ‘Gig Economy’ may revolutionize how the labor market works and how individuals interact with employers. In this talk, Professor Jackson will show measures of the rise in employment on online platforms, and characteristics of individuals participating in such work. She will explain how the structure of this gig differs from other types of jobs that people might have. She will highlight benefits of this work arrangement, such as flexibility. However, she will also emphasize aspects that are lacking relative to standard employment, such as employment benefits and workplace protections.

Headshot of Emilie Jackson.

About Professor Jackson: Professor Jackson newly joined the Department of Economics in 2021. She teaches multiple sections of the introductory microeconomics course, Econ 201. She has written papers exploring the recent growth in gig employment opportunities, and its effects on individuals’ decisions to work, ability to smooth income, and the types of jobs people work in. She has also published papers examining how major policies such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), that expanded health insurance availability, affected patient use of medical care and health outcomes.

Beyond work, she enjoys cooking and biking. Any remaining spare time she spends hiking or exploring Michigan with her (high energy) puppy. She’s always welcoming new tips on where to visit and eat in Michigan.

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