A unique opportunity to shape the platform economy of tomorrow and to join a scientific community
Digital platforms have become the defining ecosystems for economic activity in the 21st century. On two-sided markets, they mediate between buyers and sellers of digital work or enable novel business for digital entrepreneurs. At the same time, they amplify existing polarisation of skills and economic resources and call for new regulatory measures in an increasingly uneven digital economy. Both the perks and perils of the digital platform economy are distinctly visible in regions on the economic development pathway, like many economies in sub-Saharan Africa. How can platform work in sub-Saharan Africa be shaped sustainably? What role does fairness play in regulation and the exchange between different interest groups? These are just some of the many pressing questions related to platform economy and regulation, which we will address in an interdisciplinary research sprint with exciting structures for policy impact (both public and private).
For our project Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation (SET), we are now inviting applications from advanced PhD researchers, early post-docs or persons with comparable qualifications with diverse academic backgrounds (economics, law, political science and related fields) to join a
Research Sprint on “Sustainable Digital Economies”
taking place from 30 May 2022 to 15 July 2022 virtually, with a closing week onsite in Ghana. Main partners of the project are the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Digital Transformation Centre Ghana.
About the research sprint
The research sprint will address two central aspects and levels of the digital platform economy: skill polarisation in a future of remote work and local regulation of platform work. The findings and results of the research sprint will be integrated into local activities of the Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation (SET) project in Ghana and Kenya such as a multi-stakeholder dialogue, a large-scale study on skill polarisation in online labour markets and a study on regulation of digital platforms in sub-Saharan Africa. The research sprint will be conducted with two working groups, each of which will focus on one of the two central topics. One of the teams will look into data sets about online labour markets in Ghana and Kenya and will support this data with qualitative research on the workers’ perspective.
With the innovative format of a research sprint we want to enable applied research on current societal challenges in the setting of the sub-Saharan digital platform economy.
Goals of the research sprint
- Build an international knowledge community around the topic of platform mediated work
- Connect international researchers and foster the impact of their research
- Provide up-to-date research and data for policy makers and other stakeholders
- Inform discussion with stakeholders
- Showcase and foster the local capacity for digital policy making and regulation in the digital economy (ideas from the region for the region)
What we offer
- A unique opportunity to participate in a focused research activity and to conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research with outstanding international colleagues
- International visibility and collaboration with our partners GIZ and the Digital Transformation Centre in Ghana
- Support and guidance from a dedicated team of researchers at the HIIG and beyond
- A joint publication or other output format – the format will be determined by the group of participants
- You become part of an interdisciplinary community of researchers dedicated to platform governance and benefit from perspective of economics, law, and political sciences
What we expect
- Proven interest in the topic of sustainable digital economies and relevant research experience in one of the mentioned disciplines
- Outstanding academic qualifications (PhD in progress/planned or advanced PhD, post-doctoral researcher or comparable qualifications)
- Fluency in English
- Commitment to take part in recurring virtual sessions. (The estimated amount of time you can ideally dedicate is ten to twenty hours a week, depending on your capacities. The schedule will be developed together with the participants.)
- Motivation to produce research outputs within the time of the sprint and to contribute to a joint publication or alternative research output
Things to consider
The sprint is offered virtually. Participants of the research sprint have the opportunity to participate at a closing week and a multi-stakeholder dialogue onsite in Ghana, if they are fully vaccinated, according to the current travel restrictions in Ghana. There is a travel fund that allows us to refund a limited amount of travel expenses.
Time Frame: The sprint takes place from 30 May 2022 to 15 July 2022
Financial Issues: Travel costs to non-virtual events can be covered in consultation with HIIG
Application documents
- Up-to-date curriculum vitae in English
- Motivation letter explaining your interest in the research sprint, your research background, and your expectations, as well as a quick outline of what problem of platform governance you would like to address (1 page in English). Specifically, please indicate which of the two working groups you are interested in:
- A) How can platform architecture, e.g. recommendation and reputation mechanisms, be changed to make platform work more inclusive?
- B) How can platform workers be helped to find and learn marketable skills to improve their economic outlook?
- Optional: one writing or work sample covering the topic (in English or German)
In your application, please mention if you plan to take part virtually or physically, so we can plan accordingly. This is not a criterion for the selection process, but an essential information for the organisers of the sprint.
Please upload your application by 24 April 2022.
Study on Challenges and Solutions of (De)Regulation for a Socially Just Gig Economy
Call for Proposals: Regulation of Digital Platforms in sub-Saharan Africa
As part of the project’s thematic focus “Digitalisation and Entrepreneurship”, the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) will commission a study to identify challenges and potential solutions of (de)regulation in order to enable a socially just gig economy. The initial perspective on digital platform regulation is broad, potentially covering areas of labour, e-commerce and innovation, and including aspects of market power regulation, workers’ rights or copyright protection. However, the authors may specify the focus of the study in light of the availability of materials and after having received input from a multi-stakeholder dialogue that will be hosted in Kenya in July 2022.
About the Project
Funded by the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation (SET) research project has the goal of addressing issues relating to digitalisation, particularly in the Global South. With a focus on the topics of entrepreneurship, platform regulation, and the use of digitalisation for climate resiliency, the project works closely with local stakeholders to build application-oriented expertise and to create an international knowledge community.
About the Study
Specifically, the study should provide an overview of existing policies and literature on different regulatory approaches to digital platforms in sub-Saharan Africa, with a local focus on Kenya. On this basis, the role that stakeholders from the respective countries play in academic studies and policy initiatives should be identified, as well as the particular challenges for digital platform regulation that sub-Saharan countries are facing.
It is intended that the study will be initiated by a six-week research sprint aimed at facilitating applied research on current societal challenges in an international and interdisciplinary setting. Following the research sprint, the authors of the study are invited to present their preliminary findings at the stakeholder dialogue in Kenya. Responses and discussions from the dialogue should be integrated into the study, also highlighting the decisive elements of regional best-practices as guidelines for future regulatory approaches in the platform economy in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa.
The Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) kindly requests the submission of a proposal for an academic study with the following goals and objectives:
Identify the literature (both academic and policy-related) that assesses digital platform regulation (e.g., with regard to market power concentration, workers’ rights, copyright protection), with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa;
Identify policy initiatives on digital platform regulation (e.g., with regard to market power concentration, workers’ rights, copyright protection) in sub-Saharan Africa;
Investigate the role of stakeholders from respective countries in sub-Saharan Africa in academic studies and policy initiatives – to what extent have these efforts been driven by local researchers and policy makers?
Summarise the review of literature and policy initiatives in terms of countries and regulatory areas (e.g., with regard to market power concentration, workers’ rights, copyright protection);
Guide one of the teams during the six-week research sprint in their explorative research. The results can be integrated in the study. Additional effort and time investment in the research sprint can be compensated.
Present scope and design of the study at a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Kenya in July 2022 (onsite or online, travel grants are available);
Incorporate the feedback from the multi-stakeholder dialogue into the further refinement of the study, with particular consideration of the following two questions: What are the specific challenges for digital platform regulation in the context of countries in sub-Saharan Africa?
Using existing literature or policy intervention as examples, what could be done to improve digital platform regulation/ what are best practices?
Write a blogpost summarising the results for the HIIG’s Digital Society Blog
Eligibility and Requirements
Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:
PhD in a relevant discipline (advanced PhD students will be considered given that there is sufficient proof of experience)
Excellent writing skills as evidenced by publications in academic journals
Proven experience in the field of platform regulation
Familiarity with the local context (ideally experience with conducting research in sub-Saharan Africa)
Proficiency in the English language
Ability to attend the multi-stakeholder dialogue in Kenya in mid-July 2022 (exact date to be confirmed)
General Information
Budget: EUR 16,000 (gross) + possible additional compensation depending on the involvement in the research sprint
Scope of the study: maximum 15,000 words
Timeframe for conducting the study: June to October 2022
Mid-term report on the current state of research up to September 2022
Final feedback loop after editorial and academic review
All interested applicants are invited to submit their proposal (maximum two pages) and a short curriculum vitae with the form below by Tuesday, 19 April 2022. For questions please contact Christian Grauvogel (christian.grauvogel@hiig.de). Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process latest by Monday, 25 April 2022.