Collectives in the Cloud: Applying Cooperative Models to the Modern Gig Economy

Abstract

This theoretical study addresses the critical issues of precarity and algorithmic opacity in the modern gig economy. Titled ‘Collectives in the Cloud,’ the paper proposes the Dharmic-Digital Cooperative (DDC) Model—a synthesis of Platform Cooperativism and the Indian Knowledge System (IKS). By integrating the democratic governance of cooperatives with the ethical principles of Dharma (Righteous Duty) and Sarvodaya (Welfare of All), the study conceptualizes a member-owned digitalecosystem. The findings argue that embedding traditional Indian ethics into modern algorithmic management resolves the tension between profit and human welfare, offering a sustainable path for the future of work.