Interrogating Digital Capitalism

This research theme examines the myriad ways in which digital technologies are changing pre-existing forms of production and distribution of economic value in the contemporary world.

Digital economies symbolise either the onboarding of physical value formation mechanism to the online realm or new value generating propositions using Information and Communication Technologies, including through the commodification of data. Multiple contributions by political economists, economic sociologists, and labour theorists indicate how digital technologies bring about formative transformation in the functioning of capitalism. Some scholars have even suggested foundational changes in capitalism in the digital age whereby the emerging formation cannot be termed capitalism anymore. The objective of this research group is to engage with this problematique both at the theoretical and empirical level from a specific standpoint of the structural realities of the Global South.

Specific themes which are being investigated presently include employment implications of digital automation in India, labour processes in the gig economy, engagement and alienation within creator economies, digital entrepreneurship, and role of social networks in enabling value creation.

Faculty involved: Anirban Dasgupta, Rajorshi Ray