Sharing economy

Sharing instead of owning. Experiment, economise, exchange, go green. These are the catchwords for what we today call the Sharing Economy. This new way of consuming is here, now, it’s talked about, it’s used and studies show that it has promise. It’s also known as the collaborative economy, because the term «sharing» isn’t always appropriate. Its rapid international development is largely due to new communication technologies such as the internet or mobile phones. Many start-ups and platforms have sprung up to facilitate this kind of exchange and bartering. However, little is still known about the real risks and potential that the Sharing Economy might entail, making it difficult to take appropriate political decisions which may lead to conflict.

The main points that the study will address are as follows: it will draw up a map of the Sharing Economy, determine the role of the platform and of digitalisation, define the term worker or simple user, look into the potential for deregulation or regulation and detail the opportunities and risks for Switzerland.

One of the aims of this study will be to highlight the effects already brought about by the Collaborative Economy, whether at the legal, economic, environmental, technical or social level. What opportunities and risks are already quantifiable, which are the grey areas and what developments might be of major importance in the future?

In conclusion, the study will present an overall evaluation and on that basis will formulate recommendations for decision makers, especially politicians, on how to deal with this phenomenon.