Platform co-ops: Democratising the digital economy

Summary

India’s digital economy, projected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030, is increasingly dominated by a few platforms in sectors like food and grocery delivery. While convenient in the short term, this duopoly poses long-term risks such as unfair trade practices, poor working conditions, stifling competition, and higher consumer prices. In response, platform cooperatives have emerged as democratic alternatives, offering collective ownership and better decisional autonomy for service providers. Examples include Bengaluru’s Namma Yatri app and New York’s The Drivers Cooperative. Their success isn’t measured by market share but by social benefits. However, their growth requires adequate funding, supportive policies, and legal frameworks. Governments and civil society play crucial roles in facilitating and promoting these cooperatives, ensuring they offer sustainable solutions to the challenges posed by dominant platforms.