Determinants of Income Stability among Platform Workers: Evidence from the Gig Economy in Madhya Pradesh

This study set out to examine income stability among platform workers in Madhya Pradesh. A geography that has received limited empirical attention despite its expanding gig workforce. The study finds that income stability in the gig economy is not principally a function of how many hours a worker puts in, but rather of how strategically they navigate the platform ecosystem. Multi-platform engagement and skill level are the clearest positive predictors of stable income, while heavy dependence on a single platform is a significant risk factor. These findings carry practical implications at multiple levels. For workers, they point to the value of diversification and continuous skill development as income protection strategies. For platform companies operating in Madhya Pradesh, they raise questions about the long-term sustainability of incentive reduction practices that progressively weaken worker attachment and income reliability. For state policymakers, the results support investments in platform literacy programmes, multi-sector skilling initiatives, and the development of portable social security mechanisms for gig workers particularly relevance given in the national government's recent framework for gig worker registration under the e-Shram portal. The study has limitations that should be acknowledged. It is cross-sectional, precluding causal claims about income dynamics over time. Self-reported income and stability measures are subject to recall and social desirability bias. The sample, while reasonable for a regional study, is geographically bounded and may not generalize to other Tier-2 states with different demographic and platform profiles. Future research should employ longitudinal designs, integrate administrative platform data, and extend inquiry to rural and peri-urban areas where gig work is increasingly penetrating.

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