The Rise of the Sharing Economy

The “Sharing Economy” is a complex phenomenon that has disrupted industries and transformed how we live and work, but experts can’t even agree on what to call it. Lawyers, public policy experts, academics and workers weigh in to define this dynamic phenomenon and to discuss legal and regulatory issues that emerge as these platforms play an increasingly role in our society.

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

RELATED LINKS

Regulating Rideshare: Uber & Lyft in Austin, TX

The Rise of the Sharing Economy

What’s Yours Is Mine: Against the Sharing Economy by Tom Slee review – the problem with Airbnb and Uber

How Should Ridesharing Be Regulated?

The Whatchamacallit Economy

Racism is built into sharing economy, and startups can do little about it

CREDITS

Produced by:
- Tyler Lowe
- Matt Wood

Written by:
- Tyler Lowe

Director of Photography:
- Benjamin Gaskell

Edited by:
- Flatland

On-Set Director:
- Kirby Voss

Line Producer:
- JP Mandarino

Associate Producers:
- Samantha Schroeder
- Daniel T. Richards

2nd Unit DP:
- Matt Wood

Colorists:
- Flatland

Gaffers:
- Mark Belcher
- Chase Gibon

Assistant Camera:
- Matt Wood (1st Unit)
- Todd Nash (2nd Unit)

Production Assistants:
- Varvara Degtiarenko
- Lucy Augustine
- Louis Watt
- Michelle Millette

Music by:
- The License Lab

[Skoda]

The problem is that the "sharing economy" is basicaly the renting economy, and so it's basically nothing new.
The real sharing is for example buying a lawn mower with your neighbour, and use it in mutual consent.

[dalisabe]

This is not about whether taxicab or hotel industry regulations making or not making sense; it is about the alternative being a predatory that is exploiting the defective regulations and the desperate labor market affected by the dull regulations. Uber for instance did not solve the taxicab companies greed; it only took advantage of the rubble of the destruction and used it as a foundation for yet another much more vicious business model where workers became not employees and not independent contractors; they have become neither with zero benefits typically given to them one way or the other!

[netabaughman]

How can we have an economy that shares without using cell phones and computers that also is a benefit to local governments. Do you plan to do away with local government? They do serve a purpose. They are needed.

[paulvalentine]

"It's here to stay" - this sounds like a marketing person using bad Jedi mind tricks, not a professor. How can he possibly know it is here to stay.

[rogers]

Nothing wrong with sharing/pooling resources, people have done this among themselves without money, then "Sharing economy" can be exploitative to their volunteers, or workers and the present system. Many workers have to work several jobs in this economy to make enough to survive.
Not relying on your tax money, money from government- funded charity organization and money donation from people is the real sustainable movement: unlike some of these models under "sharing economy" that rent something in exchange for your money is just another profitable form of capitalism in disguise. Do some research on who they took from to start their company before your support.

[dalisabe]

It should be called the “robbing economy” because there is the host that feeds off the other parties and flouts all laws and regulations to unfairly compete with pre-existing businesses of the same kind, while not paying the dues which come with establishing a business for social and economical net security! It is just another hard version of naked greedy capitalism which runs off pooled capital and oppressive bargaining power taking advantage of desperate labor force. Thanks to our ailing economy where displaced citizen workers will eventually be willing to use the privacy of their homes for profane activities to earn a living. Oh, was not that kind of desperation the one drove the prostitution business historically where most prostitutes where mothers surviving spouses without assets or family estate to take care of raising up the little ones left behind? Yes we have a problem that our governments chose to ignore and do anything about, so their is an opportunity for predators to exploit the problem to their advantage. Thanks again to our modern civilization, which going down the drain for catering to the mighty and wealthy at the expense of the broken wing!

[Ambrose_Heria]

Sharing? The owners of the platforms... are they sharing the Massive Billions of Dollars that are generated and garner for their owners? The billions of dollars that the owners are worth, are they sharing? There is no community and sharing going on, not everyone is really capturing the massive value

[Vivldi]

When you do uber as a driver, can you choose your clients? Is there a rating system? Like after every transaction you can rate each other?

[endingalaporte]

i make an app, connect offer and demand, take a commission, snowball effect, i get rich, share economy...

[netabaughman]

It has disrupted my business and how do I reinvent myself?

[MeowfaceMusic]

(Clueless about economics.) Why try to regulate stuff now? Won't regulations be birthed once the people demand them? Am I thinking about this right?

[johnfox]

There’s something fishy about this type of economy, hard to nail it still

[whyteaz_]

What is wrong with this comment section? I'm just here to learn more about the sharing economy for my commerce exam next week. What did the sharing economy even do to you?

[its_clover]

Damn Yeerks they have a youtube channel

[ruelmp]

Making them safe and affordable are trade-offs??? wow

[OptimizeMyAirbnb]

I just started up a relevant channel and have been adding content weekly, stop by when you ahve a moment!

[jlall]

You Vill own nothing you vill be happy