Sharing Economy | IESE Library

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The sharing economy is growing at an exponential rate. Some estimates suggest that it is the second largest economy in the world. Defined by a peer-to-peer exchange of values such as facilities, money, goods and information, it is also referred to with terms like “collaborative economy”, “peer-to-peer marketplaces” or “platform economy”.

New sharing economy firms like Airbnb and Uber are disrupting traditional industries across the globe by entering into markets such as transportation, travel and retail where incumbent operators are subject to significant government regulation. Analysts forecast that the collaborative economy will continue to grow but there remains uncertainty around whether their operations fully comply with existing laws. A new balance between innovation and regulation will probably need to be struck before it can achieve its real potential. The IESE Library has compiled some information sources to help you understand what the sharing economy is and what sort of repercussions it could have in the coming years.