Unpacking Welfare Deservingness Theory: Evidence From the Perceived Deservingness of Gig Workers

ABSTRACT The theory of welfare deservingness provides valuable insights into the social legitimacy of welfare programs and the principles underlying policy design. In examining the question of who deserves what and why, established deservingness criteria emphasize that individuals demonstrating motivation to work (“reciprocity”) are typically perceived as more deserving. However, little is known about how the nature of work might affect perceived deservingness. This study addresses this gap by investigating the perceived deservingness of gig workers, a rapidly growing segment of the labor force characterized by distinctive work arrangements. The flexibility and autonomy inherent in gig jobs are argued to amplify perceptions of personal responsibility and control, thereby reducing public support for benefits for gig workers. Through preregistered survey experiments conducted as part of the 2022 Cooperative Election Study, this research identifies a significant “gig work deservingness penalty,” where gig workers are perceived as less deserving of welfare benefits compared to traditional workers, even when demonstrating motivation to work. This penalty is especially pronounced for immigrant gig workers. These findings uncover the established criterion of “job searching” is not homogeneous, offering critical insights into the challenges of building consensus for policy reforms aimed at creating security systems for emerging precarious groups.