Lecture by Hernan Galperin: Discrimination in the platform economy

Talk Description: Our economic transactions are increasingly mediated by platforms such as Amazon, Uber, Kickstarter, eBay and many others. These platforms claim to operate as neutral intermediaries between private parties. However, platform design choices can greatly affect outcomes. In a series of related studies, Prof. Hernan Galperin shows how discrimination operates in Freelancer.com, one of the largest online job marketplaces. The findings reveal that information uncertainty disproportionately penalizes workers from developing countries. Further, they suggest that gender stereotypes result in less favorable hiring outcomes for women. The studies suggest the need to rethink policy remedies and examine the effect of platform design on discrimination in online marketplaces.