The Human Capital Hoax: Work, Debt and Insecurity in the Era of Uberization

Fleming, P

The Human Capital Hoax: Work, Debt and Insecurity in the Era of Uberization

Fleming, P

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Publisher:: SAGE Publications
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Organization Studies, 2017, 38, (5), pp. 691-709
Issue Date:: 2017-05-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Fleming, P https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6838-7190
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-05T03:15:37Z
dc.date.available	2022-08-05T03:15:37Z
dc.date.issued	2017-05-01
dc.identifier.citation	Organization Studies, 2017, 38, (5), pp. 691-709
dc.identifier.issn	0170-8406
dc.identifier.issn	1741-3044
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/159641
dc.description.abstract	Human capital theory – developed by neoclassical economists like Gary Becker and Theodore Schultz – is widely considered a useful way to explain how employees might enhance their value in organizations, leading to improved skill, autonomy and socio-economic wellbeing. This essay argues the opposite. Human capital theory implies that employees should bear the costs (and benefits) of their investment. Highly individualized training and work practices are an inevitable corollary. Self-employment, portfolio careers, the ‘gig economy’ and on-demand business models (including Uber and Deliveroo) faithfully reflect the assumptions that inform human capital theory. I term this the radical responsibilization of the workforce and link it to growing economic insecurity, low productivity, diminished autonomy and worrying levels of personal debt. The essay concludes by proposing some possible solutions.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	SAGE Publications
dc.relation.ispartof	Organization Studies
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/0170840616686129
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1503 Business and Management
dc.subject.classification	Business & Management
dc.title	The Human Capital Hoax: Work, Debt and Insecurity in the Era of Uberization
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	38
utslib.for	1503 Business and Management
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business/Management Discipline
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-08-05T03:15:36Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	38
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

Human capital theory – developed by neoclassical economists like Gary Becker and Theodore Schultz – is widely considered a useful way to explain how employees might enhance their value in organizations, leading to improved skill, autonomy and socio-economic wellbeing. This essay argues the opposite. Human capital theory implies that employees should bear the costs (and benefits) of their investment. Highly individualized training and work practices are an inevitable corollary. Self-employment, portfolio careers, the ‘gig economy’ and on-demand business models (including Uber and Deliveroo) faithfully reflect the assumptions that inform human capital theory. I term this the radical responsibilization of the workforce and link it to growing economic insecurity, low productivity, diminished autonomy and worrying levels of personal debt. The essay concludes by proposing some possible solutions.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/159641