Title: The 'sharing economy community' on the role of local government in promoting, steering and governing the sharing economy. An exploratory study

Authors: Monica Bernardi; Davide Diamantini

Addresses: Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Milano-Bicocca, Edificio U7, Via Bicocca degli Arcimboldi 8, 20126 Milano, Italy ' 'Riccardo Massa' Department of Human Science for Education, University of Milano-Bicocca, Edificio U6, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126 Milano, Italy

Abstract: The phenomenon of the sharing economy is gaining momentum and has become a focus of analysis, debate, and study for the scientific community as well as for a range of other actors. Thus, an identifiable broader community of knowledge-based experts and practitioners is generating a 'meta-discourse' on the sharing economy. This is the point of departure for the current paper, which examines the phenomenon in depth, particularly focusing on the role that local governments can play in promoting, steering and governing this disruptive social innovation. Drawing on the input of a panel of ten experts from academia, the consultancy sector, policy-making, and business, the sharing economy is analysed and reassessed. The community's reflections on its own nature and characteristics are also reported.

Keywords: sharing economy; SE; local government; LG; knowledge-based community; sharing city; platform capitalism; platform cooperativism.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2020.106473

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2020 Vol.24 No.3, pp.307 - 329

Received: 13 Sep 2017
Accepted: 27 Mar 2018
Published online: 09 Apr 2020 *

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