European Perspectives on Participation in the Sharing Economy

Abstract

This report presents results of a large-scale quantitative survey of European citizens on the topic of participation in the sharing economy. Based on a model of divides in sharing participation, it examines levels of engagement among Europeans, socioeconomic antecedents, motives for sharing participation as well as Internet skills and access. It differentiates reasons for non-participation and examines outcomes of both consumptive and productive participation. The report highlights sharing divides between participants and non-participants, active and passive participants, as well as occasional and professional providers in the sharing economy. It is part of a European Union Horizon 2020 Research Project on the sharing economy: "Ps2Share Participation, Privacy, and Power in the Sharing Economy". We aim to foster awareness of the consequences of the sharing economy for the way people behave, think, interact, and socialize across Europe. Our overarching objective is to identify key challenges of the sharing economy and improve Europe’s digital services through providing recommendations to Europe’s institutions.

Keywords: Sharing Economy, Participation, Digital Divide, Gender, Motives, Attitudes, Trust, Social Capital, Uber, Airbnb