Abstract
Over the recent years, the sharing economy has been discussed as a community-based solution for a more sustainable future. Supported by the development of information technologies and defined by a large range of activities based on the access of underutilized resources over ownership, the sharing economy has been framed as a socio-economic model that is able to increase social bonding and collaboration and to reduce the inefficient allocation of resources. Within this framework, the sharing economy seems to align with the ideas of degrowth, broadly defined as a downscaling of production and consumption activities oriented to increase environmental quality and social collaboration. Despite the connections existing between them, no previous studies investigate the two concepts together. By considering the evidence provided by previous literature, this paper maps the links and similarities existing between sharing economy and degrowth and analyzes the discrepancies existing between the promises of the sharing economy and the impacts generated by practices. A paradox of scale, where the sharing activities fail to deliver as a consequence of success is also discussed together with future research directions. This paper contributes to the existing debate around alternative economic models and can support the design of sustainable practices.
Highlights
Fueled by the financial constraints and instability generated by the global financial crisis of 2008, the sharing economy has emerged as a collaborative consumption model that radically changed the way of using resources [1]
The sharing economy and degrowth have often been framed as promises for a more equitable and sustainable future
Mapping the links existing between sharing economy and degrowth and considering the main socio-economic and environmental impacts generated by the sharing economy, this paper discusses the feasibility of alternative economic models
Summary
Fueled by the financial constraints and instability generated by the global financial crisis of 2008, the sharing economy has emerged as a collaborative consumption model that radically changed the way of using resources [1]. The sharing economy has been described around three main pillars, namely: i) Enabling greater efficiency and access; ii) decentralizing and disrupting the established economic structure; and iii) empowering citizens and communities [1,2,3,4]. Within this context, the sharing economy seems to align to the main goals proposed by degrowth. The idea of participative democracy, oriented to reduce the undemocratic control of corporation and elites is in line with the objectives of sharing platforms based on open access, open source, and a collaborative software movement [10,11]
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