Airbnb como urbanismo de plataforma: aspectos gerais e caminhos para uma abordagem multiescalar

Abstract

This article presents aspects highlighted in scientific studies on Airbnb as an expression of “platform urbanism” and indicates processes that can be observed in socio-spatial and economic dynamics stimulated by short-term rentals worldwide, aiming to formulate paths for a multi-scalar investigation. To achieve this, the article is divided into three parts. In the first part, we analyze studies on Airbnb encompassing the concept of platform urbanism and indicating the main aspects they point out. In the second part, events related to Airbnb activities in five countries (United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and China) are presented, gathered from newspaper news. And in the third part, four processes related to these events are listed: the complexification of the real estate system; new flows defined by digital nomadism; new arrangements in the private sector; and the expansion of vacation rental companies according to pre-existing political and economic logics.