A sharing economy

Airbnb, Etsy, Uber… apparently there are now 17 different ‘sharing economy’ companies worth over a billion dollars. Is ownership an outdated concept?

I found myself listening to a really interesting episode of Radio 4’s FutureProofing. Not just a reaction to the recession or part of a green movement, we know the sharing economy is part of a much bigger shift happening in the world. While some things (personal hygeine products for example) will always make sense to own, people are becoming more and more open to the idea of borrowing and sharing others. The focus is on the connection, as much as the products themselves.

Young people would rather own a smartphone than a car because they see it as a remote control to the physical world. New technologies are creating new income streams. A whole new class of people will become owners of stuff it really matters to own.

Anyway, download it from iPlayer and have a listen for yourself!