This project investigates the impact of climate change on the gig economy and the livelihoods of gig workers. As the planet warms, will the last-mile delivery of products shift from consumers to workers? Can adaptation to climate change lead to growth in demand for gig economy jobs? If so, what are the welfare effects on workers? Papp studies these questions empirically using data on consumer transactions, labor force surveys, and other data.
She first examines whether consumers increase usage of food delivery services in response to extreme temperatures. Preliminary evidence from Mexico shows a growth in searches for the local delivery service on very hot days, controlling for seasonality. If this adaptation behavior holds more widely, as consumers adapt to protect themselves, gig economy workers may work more under extreme heat, which is harmful to human health. For most of the project, Papp then turns to questions regarding the labor supply and welfare of gig workers resulting from this consumer adaptation and shift of exposure to heat. Preliminary results using a Mexican labor force survey show that delivery workers work up to 1-4 more hours per day when maximum temperatures are above 30C. She plans to expand on these early results with more data on delivery transactions and worker wages. Key next steps will include acquiring and collecting more data, building out empirical analyses, and improving the theoretical framework.
The project will result in an academic paper, which Papp also plans to present at academic conferences. The project is relevant for movements and policies related to the compensation and safety of gig workers, such as Los Deliveristas Unidos - an NYC group working toward establishing and expanding the labor rights of NYC app delivery workers. Therefore, while the near-term goal of the project is writing an academic paper, she ultimately hopes to bring relevant findings in front of organizers, practitioners, and policymakers.
