Innovation Labor: Risk and the State in the Digital Economy

Abstract

As some celebrate the new digital economy based on more risk and entrepreneurship, others are protesting for less risk and more job security. Digital technology is one of the fastest growing economic sectors worldwide. Many types and sizes of corporations are involved in this sector, but those that garner the most attention are “disrupting” business practices, particularly technology start-ups that are immersed in the so-called sharing economy. I will present my new mixed-methods project that will provide evidenced-based research for how state policies shape risk in digital entrepreneurship in the sharing economy. The broad research question asks how do laws and government regulations factor into decisions to engage in risky networked startups? I am in the initial stages of a two year project to study this question. The talk will lay out the overall research plan and ask for input on the data collection .