Ross A. Malaga

(Feliciano School of Business, Montclair State University, USA)

 

 

Abstract: Freelance workers are responsible for a large share of the economy. However, most are limited by the amount of time they can personally work. In certain fields new software and other digital tools allow freelancers to provide services (gigs) in an automated fashion. Many of the gigs that would take hours or even days to complete can now be accomplished in minutes. This paper posits that freelancers who use these tool have become something new-digital micro entrepreneurs. Using specific cases from sites like Fiverr and UpWork, this paper tries to understand this new phenomenon.

 

 

Key words: entrepreneurship; freelance; search engine optimization; micro entrepreneur

 

JEL codes: J21, J24, J46, M13