Impacts of the Sharing Economy on Urban Sustainability: The Perceptions of Municipal Governments and Sharing Organisations

Lucie Enochsson, Yuliya Voytenko Palgan, Andrius Plepys and Oksana Mont
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Lucie Enochsson: IIIEE, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Yuliya Voytenko Palgan: IIIEE, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Andrius Plepys: IIIEE, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Oksana Mont: IIIEE, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-31

Abstract: By changing the institutionalised practices associated with resource distribution, the sharing economy could support sustainable urban transformations. However, its impacts on urban sustainability are unknown and contested, and key actors hold different perceptions about them. Understanding how they frame these impacts could help solve conflicts and outline what can be done to influence the development of the sharing economy in a way that fosters urban sustainability. This study explores the diversity of these frames across actors (sharing economy organisations and municipalities), segments (accommodation, bicycle, and car sharing), and cities (Amsterdam and Toronto). A framework of the impacts on urban sustainability was developed following a systematic literature review. This then guided the analysis of secondary data and 51 interviews with key actors. Results show that accommodation sharing is framed most negatively due to its impact on urban liveability. Bicycle sharing is surrounded by less conflict. Still, in Amsterdam, which has a well-functioning bicycle infrastructure, it is viewed less positively than in Toronto. Car sharing is the most positively framed segment in Amsterdam as its potentials to lower emissions align with municipal sustainability agendas. Practical insights for negotiations between sharing economy organisations and municipalities to advance urban sustainability are proposed.

Keywords: sharing economy; framing; sustainability; accommodation sharing; car sharing; bicycle sharing; city (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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