World
Bloomberg Podcast: Fast-Food Franchises and the Rise of the Gig Economy
On July 24, 2026, Bloomberg's podcast "Odd Lots" releases a 44-minute 30-second episode exploring the connection between fast-food franchise models and the rise of the gig economy. Guest Brian Callaci, chief economist at the Open Markets Institute and author of "Chains of Command: The Rise and Cruel Reign of the Franchise Economy," explains how franchising expanded in the 1950s with brands like McDonald's. According to the episode, legal battles fought by franchising companies established precedents that allowed platforms to classify workers like Uber drivers as independent contractors, mirroring franchise operators.