The future of platforms, big data and new forms of capital accumulation

B. Nayak, Nigel Walton
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引用次数: 1

Abstract

PurposeThe paper argues that the classical Marxist theory of capitalist accumulation is inadequate to understand new forms of capitalism and their accumulation processes determined by “platforms” and “big data”. Big data platforms are shaping the processes of production, labour, the price of products and market conditions. “Digital platforms” and “big data” have become an integral part of the processes of production, distribution and exchange relations. These twin pillars are central to the capitalist accumulation processes. The article argues that the classical Marxist theory of capitalist accumulation is inadequate to understand new forms of capitalism and their accumulation processes determined by “platforms” and “big data”.Design/methodology/approachAs a conceptual paper, this paper follows critical methodological lineages and traditions based on non-linear historical narratives around the conceptualisation, construction and transition of the “Marxist theory of capital accumulation” in the age of platform economy. This paper follows a discourse analysis (Fairclough, 2003) to locate the way in which an artificial intelligence (AI)-led platform economy helps identify and conceptualise new forms of capitalist accumulation. It engages with Jørgensen and Phillips' (2002) contextual and empirical discursive traditions to undertake a qualitative comparative analysis by exploring a broad range of complex factors with case studies and examples from leading firms within the platform economy. Finally, it adopts two steps of “Theory Synthesis and Theory Adaptation” as outlined by Jaakkola (2020) to synthesise, adopt and expand the Marxist theory of capital accumulation under platform capitalism.FindingsThis article identifies new trends and forms of data driven capitalist accumulation processes within the platform capitalism. The findings suggest that an AI led platform economy creates new forms of capitalist accumulation. The article helps to develop theoretical understanding and conceptual frameworks to understand and explain these new forms of capital accumulation.Originality/valueThis study builds upon the limited theorisation on the AI and new capitalist accumulation processes. This article identifies new trends and forms of data driven capitalist accumulation processes within platform capitalism. The article helps to understand digital and platform capitalisms in the lens of digital labour and expands the theory of capitalist accumulation and its new forms in the age of datafication. While critiquing the Marxist theory of capitalist accumulation, the article offers alternative approaches for the future.
未来的平台、大数据和资本积累的新形式
本文认为,经典的马克思主义资本积累理论不足以理解资本主义的新形态及其由“平台”和“大数据”决定的积累过程。大数据平台正在塑造生产流程、劳动力、产品价格和市场状况。“数字平台”和“大数据”已经成为生产、分配和交换关系过程中不可或缺的一部分。这两大支柱是资本主义积累过程的核心。本文认为,经典的马克思主义资本积累理论不足以理解资本主义的新形式及其由“平台”和“大数据”决定的积累过程。设计/方法论/方法作为一篇概念性论文,本文遵循了基于非线性历史叙事的批判性方法论谱系和传统,围绕平台经济时代“马克思主义资本积累理论”的概念化、构建和转型。本文遵循话语分析(Fairclough, 2003),以确定人工智能(AI)主导的平台经济有助于识别和概念化新形式的资本主义积累的方式。它结合了Jørgensen和Phillips(2002)的语境和经验话语传统,通过案例研究和来自平台经济中领先公司的例子,探索了广泛的复杂因素,进行了定性比较分析。最后,采用Jaakkola(2020)提出的“理论综合和理论适应”两个步骤,对平台资本主义下的马克思主义资本积累理论进行综合、采纳和拓展。本文确定了平台资本主义中数据驱动的资本积累过程的新趋势和形式。研究结果表明,人工智能主导的平台经济创造了新的资本积累形式。本文有助于发展理论认识和概念框架,以理解和解释这些新的资本积累形式。独创性/价值本研究建立在人工智能和新资本主义积累过程的有限理论基础上。本文确定了平台资本主义中数据驱动的资本积累过程的新趋势和形式。本文有助于从数字劳动的角度理解数字资本主义和平台资本主义,并扩展了资本积累理论及其在数据化时代的新形式。在批判马克思主义资本积累理论的同时,本文为未来提供了另一种途径。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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