Digital Capitalism - #DigiCap

Public Transport 4.0 – Organising public mobility platforms

In the context of digital networking, platforms are emerging in almost all areas of life and work, enabling new forms of cooperation and integration. This also goes for the field of mobility. Private providers in particular, and not least the large tech enterprises, are delving ever more deeply our everyday lives. Their platforms pool and network various mobility services, but are usually based on the controversial business models wielded by big tech. Mobility platforms can also be viewed from a different angle, however, and placed at the service of sustainability and the common good. At present, mobility platforms are also emerging under municipal ownership, offering a counterweight to private platforms while opening up an opportunity for a new digital infrastructure policy that serves citizens.
•    What role can mobility platforms play in the development of an infrastructure policy geared to the public good?
•    How can the regulatory framework be further refined and developed at the European level in order to widen the scope for an infrastructure policy orientated towards the public interest?

With:

From Bitcoin to Digital Euro

Cash as we know it could soon be a thing of the past: the EU wants to introduce the "digital euro" by 2026. Other countries have long since moved on: digital cash has already been in use in the Bahamas for a year now, but China in particular has been testing its e-yuan nationwide for some time. And in northern Europe, Swedes can already pay for their purchases with a national cryptocurrency. What is in store for us? What consequences will digital currencies have with regard to the sovereignty of central banks over monetary policy, especially in the EU? What status will digital currencies of states have in the global currency structure – for example with regard to China? What are the consequences of all this for consumers – economically but also with regard to their rights and data protection?

With:

Towards a European digital public sphere

According to the predominant economic narrative the digital markets development is exploratory and unstoppable way, and that regulations attempts to reign it in can only be insufficient. If the EU wants to open up the new media spaces for encounters and democratic exchange, create space for innovation and participation, it needs a radical vision, an alternative and divergent way “towards a European digital public sphere”. This forum follows on from a series of articles on the topic that appear on the website

social europe

With:

Trade Unions in Transformation 4.0 – New resources of power for the digital world of work.

In the new world of digital work, transnational (digital) corporations are restructuring the power relationship between capital and labour – often to the disadvantage of workers. The trend towards informal, precarious and outsourced work is on the rise. What are the strategic responses of organised labour to these shifts in power? How do trade unions and new workers’ organisations manage to mobilise their power resources and negotiate better working conditions? Discussion based on the FES project "Trade Unions in Transformation 4.0"

With:

Artificial intelligence in human resources management - taking on the imbalance of power with co-determination

AI-driven HR management ranges to cover so-called people analytics tools that capture and analyse workforce behavioural data, combine it with business data, and offer insight into workflows and processes, performance and potential for managers and employees alike. Since employees themselves often do not have access to this data, a pronounced asymmetry of information is developing between employees and employers. How - if at all - can applications be used in the interests of employees? And how can co-determination at the workplace contribute to employee-friendly use?

With:

Financial capitalism in digital Europe

Digitalisation is closely linked to the expansion and dominance of the financial markets. This increasingly has consequences for the real economy: algorithms have long dominated the stock markets and thus companies’ valuation.

What are the consequences for the real economy and how can we regulate the financial markets for the common good? Which actors are behind the high investment flows that are being moved for new, digital business models? What does this mean for state sovereignty? Is the stability of the financial markets as much at risk as the stability of the digital economy?

With: