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Platform work has rapidly developed since it first emerged in the EU, though concerns have been raised about the employment and working conditions of platform work and the risk of precariousness it entails. Platform work has, therefore, been identified as a policy priority by European policy-makers. This study presents an analytical literature review that focuses on the challenges and risks of precariousness of platform work and explores possible pathways for EU action. It covers aspects of the ...

Transport is a strategic sector of the EU economy. Essential to ensuring free movement, it enables people and goods to overcome distances, borders and natural barriers, directly affecting the everyday lives of all EU citizens. Maintaining the flow of goods from producers and manufacturers to consumers makes efficient transport systems a backbone of European integration. For the single market to function well in all regions, the EU needs sustainable, efficient and fully interconnected transport networks ...

Artificial intelligence is changing the transport sector. From helping cars, trains, ships and aeroplanes to function autonomously, to making traffic flows smoother, it is already applied in numerous transport fields. Beyond making our lives easier, it can help to make all transport modes safer, cleaner, smarter and more efficient. Artificial intelligence-led autonomous transport could for instance help to reduce the human errors that are involved in many traffic accidents. However, with these opportunities ...

Cooperatives are autonomous associations of people aspiring to achieve their objectives through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. International organisations, such as the United Nations and the European Union (EU), value the role cooperatives play for society, the economy and (international) development. There are 3 million cooperatives worldwide; together, they provide employment for 280 million people, equating to 10 % of the world's employed population. The 300 largest ...

Globalisation, technological change, an aging population and changes to the world of work have made securing social protection for all, i.e. economic and social security, a major challenge. When social protection systems work well, they can have a stabilising effect on the economy and promote socio-economic equality and stability. By contrast, inadequate or ineffective systems can exacerbate inequality. Indeed, improving the existing social protection systems is the priority of half of the principles ...

The digital revolution, which is reshaping the global economy and societies, offers numerous opportunities, but also poses many challenges, thereby putting governments in a dilemma on how to shape it. While empowering individuals in many ways and spurring impressive inventions, it poses threats of cyber-attacks and privacy abuse. It also raises concern about the future of the labour and social security markets. This note offers links to commentaries and studies on the digital economy by major international ...

EU citizens' daily lives have been changed by the emerging collaborative economy. However, the terms employed to describe the phenomenon are as many and varied as the interpretations of what the collaborative economy actually comprises. The collaborative economy encompasses many situations that do not match the standard business categories and types of transactions. The collaborative economy blurs the lines, not least as regards taxation. For policy-makers to understand how taxation of the collaborative ...

The digital revolution is reshaping the world, changing people's habits in communication, work, leisure and politics. A major part of this revolution is the expansion of the economy based on digital platforms that match demand and supply for labour without an intermediation of traditional corporations. Platforms also allow people to socialise regardless of geographic distance, find entertainment and travel opportunities easily, and do many other things. Some well-known platforms are Google, Twitter ...

This note, prepared by Policy Department A for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, summarises the background on the phenomenon of platform work, and introduces the focus and the key findings of the recent study "The Social Protection of Workers in the Platform Economy". It then lists the key recommendations of the study to give the interested audience a quick overview on the main findings of the study.

This paper examines the development of digital business models in the provision of flights and short-term accommodation services. It discusses the growing importance of digital intermediaries and their associated business model features, some of which provide significant value, and others which could be considered deleterious and in need of regulatory scrutiny. The paper concludes with some suggestions for regulation based on technology, algorithms and big data analytics. This could enable a more ...