Open AccessConceptual Framework for Explorations of the Collaborative Economy
Author(s) -
Filip Majetić
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
društvena istraživanja/društvena istraživanja
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1848-6096
pISSN - 1330-0288
DOI - 10.5559/di.30.3.08
Subject(s) - sharing economy , conceptualization , license , business , renting , conceptual framework , phenomenon , context (archaeology) , marketing , economy , economics , sociology , computer science , engineering , biology , operating system , paleontology , social science , civil engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , world wide web
This paper aims to establish a comprehensive and easily operationalizable conceptual framework for explorations of the collaborative economy (CE). While the phenomenon has attracted increasing attention among businesses, customers, politicians/regulators, and researchers, a widely accepted conceptualization still does not exist. In the present study the CE accommodates for-profit and/or not-for-profit exchange of products that are: a) temporarily provided to others (i.e. shared) by their owners when the assets are under-utilized; b) shared occasionally i.e. up to a certain extent; c) shared by amateurs/ non-professionals when having a professional license is mandatory; and d) shared via on-line platforms. If all the requirements are (simultaneously) fulfilled, shared products embrace both goods and services and sharing providers embrace both individuals (e.g., P2P) and organizations (e.g., B2P). The proposed framework is discussed in the context of the CE key "surrounding" concepts – the on-demand economy, gig economy, second-hand & circular economy, and rental economy.