SHARING ECONOMY PRACTICES AS BUSINESS MODELS: FROM MYTHS TO THE REALITY

الملخص

The paper focuses on sharing economy practices from the business perspective. It points out the current
misperception of the term “sharing economy” among consumers resulting from its predominant connection with altruistic motives while ignoring its economic impact. On the other hand, it highlights a growing controversy about sharing economy platforms and describes the emergence of new business models based on hybrid market exchanges. Unfair business practices hidden under the label of sharing economy jeopardize the promising peer-to-peer market exchange system. Taking into account the current evolution of sharing economy, the author assumes that instead of having unrealistic altruistic expectations we shall accept sharing economy activities as regular business models. At the same time, clear rules and regulations have to be applied to all digital platforms involving monetary exchanges to make them operate under the same conditions as traditional businesses. As a result, the revenues from sharing economy shall be more justly distributed within the society.

Keywords
Sharing economy, business model, digital platform, online market, peer-to-peer exchange

https://doi.org/10.24897/acn.64.68.238