A Different Kind of Sharing Economy: A Literature Review of Platform Cooperatives

Abstract

We are now living in the so-called sharing economy, exemplified by the ride sharing platform Uber and short-term rental sharing platform Airbnb. In spite of the convenience and benefits of the sharing economy, there is a growing awareness of its negative and harmful societal effects. In response, platform cooperatives have started to emerge, aiming to create a different kind of sharing economy. However, the novelty of platform cooperatives combined with lack of research attention, continue to limit our understanding of the social and other benefits of platform cooperatives. The main objective of this paper is to provide a literature review on platform cooperatives, focusing on their social values and benefits. Analysis of the key publications reveals high potential of platform cooperatives as a more ethical and fairer alternative to platform capitalism that create value for their members/co-owners, while creating value for society.