The role of blockchain technology in shaping the gig economy

This study investigates the impact of blockchain technology on the gig economy at the macro level, addressing the limited empirical evidence on this relationship in existing literature. Using a panel dataset of nine countries from 2014 to 2023, the study employs least squares, fixed effects, and instrumental variable regression techniques. Blockchain technology is measured through blockchain patents, with alternative measures (blockchain start-ups and cryptocurrency volume) used for robustness checks. The gig economy is evaluated via its contribution to GDP, market size, and the number of gig platforms. The results reveal a positive and statistically significant impact of blockchain technology on the gig economy across all measures, and the findings remain robust to alternative proxies. Rather than emphasizing general technological benefits, the study provides macro-level empirical evidence that blockchain innovation is systematically linked to gig economy expansion. These findings offer policy-relevant insights into how emerging technologies can support the structural development of decentralized labor markets.