Freelancing as an object of scientific study: a literature review

Freelancing in modern society is one of the key forms of atypical employment caused by the digitalization of the economy and the spread of online platforms. This phenomenon refers to the performance of work on a project or temporary basis without entering into a traditional employment contract. Its development is associated with global changes in the organization of work, the growth of the "gig economy" and a change in the professional identity of workers.

A wide range of approaches to freelance analysis has emerged in the world literature. Economic and sociological studies consider it as a manifestation of flexible employment, focusing on income, status and motivation of freelancers. Legal publications address issues of social protection and taxation. The digitalization of the labor market has set new research objectives related to the functioning of platforms and the globalization of labor processes.

The Kazakh context remains insufficiently studied. In official statistics, freelancing is more often included in the category of self-employed, which makes it difficult to assess its scale. At the same time, there is an increase in the number of specialists working through digital platforms in the fields of IT, design and marketing.

The purpose of the article is to systematize existing research on freelancing, identify the main areas of analysis and identify gaps in the study of this phenomenon in Kazakhstan.

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