World
Franchises and the Gig Economy: Bloomberg Podcast Traces Their Historical Link
Bloomberg's 'Odd Lots' podcast, hosted by Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, released on July 24, 2026 an episode exploring the origins of the franchise model and its connection to the gig economy. Guest Brian Callaci, chief economist at the Open Markets Institute and author of 'Chains of Command', explains how the legal battles fought by franchises enabled platforms like Uber to treat their drivers as independent operators. The episode also addresses worker surveillance in restaurant chains.