Akkanut Watanasombut

Hi, my name is Akanat Watanasombut. I am a researcher at the Institute of Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Recently, I have been involved with a platform co-op called Tamsang Tamsong, which empowers workers and other stakeholders to create their own platforms for ride-hailing and food delivery in Thailand. I firmly believe that cooperative principles are essential, particularly in today’s digital economy, which often perpetuates significant inequalities. To address these disparities, it’s crucial to incorporate these cooperative principles. For example, adopting democratic governance within these platforms can ensure that decisions are not unilaterally made by platform owners but are instead informed by the voices of all stakeholders. By embedding co-op principles into the platform economy, we can foster a fairer and more equitable economic system.