Abstract

"The sharing economy seemingly encompasses online peer-to-peer economic activities as diverse as rental (Airbnb), for-profit service provision (Uber), and gifting (Freecycle). The Silicon Valley success stories of Airbnb and Uber have catalysed a vibrant sharing economy discourse, participated in by the media, incumbent industries, entrepreneurs and grassroots activists. Within this discourse the sharing economy is framed in contradictory ways; ranging from a potential pathway to sustainability, to a nightmarish form of neoliberalism. However, these framings share a common vision of the sharing economy (a niche of innovation) decentralising and disrupting established socio-technical and economic structures (regimes). Here I present an analysis of the online sharing economy discourse; identifying that the sharing economy is framed as: (1) an economic opportunity; (2) a more sustainable form of consumption; (3) a pathway to a decentralised, equitable and sustainable economy; (4) creating unregulated marketplaces; (5) reinforcing the neoliberal paradigm; and, (6) an incoherent field of innovation. Although a critique of hyper-consumption was central to emergence of the sharing economy niche (2), it has been successfully reframed by regime actors as purely an economic opportunity (1). If the sharing economy follows this pathway of corporate co-option it appears unlikely to drive a transition to sustainability."

Excerpt

Framing 5: The Sharing Economy Reinforces the Neoliberal Economic Paradigm; A Sharing Society is Needed

"This framing provides a critical perspective on the sharing economy (as embodied in the Economic Opportunity and Sustainable Consumption framings), and its role in reinforcing the neoliberal economic paradigm [diagnostic sub-framing focussed on the niche]. In particular, limitations and negative impacts are highlighted including: corporate co-option of the sharing economy (e.g. Airbnb and Couchsurfing); the casualisation of labour within the sharing economy (e.g. Uber and Taskrabbit); a lack of concern with issues of environment sustainability; the assumption embedded within the sharing economy's peer-to-peer model that individual actions alone lead to social change; and, the exclusivity of the sharing economy (i.e. only those who already own assets can share them). Hence, this framing advocates that a ‘real’ sharing economy or a sharing society is needed [prognostic sub-framing focused on the landscape]. One of two visions is then offered: either, a sharing economy as described in the decentralised economy framing; or, a sharing society built upon resource sharing at the local and national scales (i.e. public services) and at the international scale (i.e. transferring resources from developed to developing countries). Again, the values of social justice, environmental justice and equality are called upon to justify the critique and establish the need to create a real sharing economy [motivational sub-framing].

This framing tended to be employed in a complete form by niche actors, writing for Share the Worlds Resources and Sharable, to highlight the need to transform both the sharing economy niche and the prevailing neoliberal economic paradigm (a feature of the landscape). There was no evidence of this framing being employed by regime actors. Furthermore, the variations of this framing offer two rather different visions of what a sharing economy or society would entail; either emphasising the need for decentralisation and citizen empowerment (as per the decentralised economy framing), or emphasising the need for government action and political change. Hence, suggesting the shaping of the two variations by libertarian and social democratic ideologies respectively. Furthermore, there are other connections between this framing and the decentralised economy framing, in particular around: the need to promote offline forms of sharing and collaboration; and, the motivational role of the values of social and environmental justice."

Sharing Economy as Nightmarish Form of Neoliberal Capitalism

Abstract

Excerpt

Framing 5: The Sharing Economy Reinforces the Neoliberal Economic Paradigm; A Sharing Society is Needed

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