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Articles on Sharing economy

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Instead of owning physical copies of DVDs or CDs, for example, people subscribe to streaming services, allowing them to access a wide range of products without the burden of traditional ownership. (Shutterstock)

The shift from owning to renting goods is ushering in a new era of consumerism

These days people prefer to simply have access to goods and services, rather than outright owning them. But what does this mean for the future of consumerism?
Cities are breeding grounds for creativity – and infectious diseases. Salvator Barki/Moment via Getty Images

Why COVID-19 won’t kill cities

Two scholars of cities explain why dense, urban areas will survive – and thrive – long after the pandemic ends, and even if they don’t get a bailout.
Many people take Uber not just because they want a ride, but because they want to contribute to a social good. Shutterstock

The same but different: what passengers like about Uber

Discussions with Uber riders bring out a wide range of opinions about the platform, especially when it comes to ethics.
People are alarmed about Airbnb’s impacts, but these are far from uniform across the city. Justin Lane/EPA

Airbnb: who’s in, who’s out, and what this tells us about rental impacts in Sydney and Melbourne

The patterns of Airbnb listings in Australia’s biggest cities suggest impacts on rental housing are likely to be biggest in high-end areas that appeal to tourists. Low-income areas are less affected.
Four major disruptions of urban transport are set to transform city life, but exactly how remains uncertain. Taras Makarenko/Pexels

Utopia or nightmare? The answer lies in how we embrace self-driving, electric and shared vehicles

Self-driving, shared, electric vehicles and increasing urban density represent four disruptions that will transform city life. But a transport utopia isn’t a guaranteed outcome of their interactions.
The view of Cartagena, Colombia from Tierra Bomba. Despite being one of the most visited cities in South America, Tierra Bomba remains highly impoverished. Why doesn’t large-scale tourism benefit such a community? Carter Hunt

The travel industry has sparked a backlash against tourists by stressing quantity over quality

At many popular destinations, residents are protesting against crowding, rowdy visitors and low wages. With some research, travelers can use their visits to enrich host areas instead of harming them.
We need to look behind the sharing economy’s apparently informal, casual intent to consider the impacts on people’s lives. Montri Nipitvittaya/Shutterstock

Sharing economy sounds caring, but let’s put it to the ethical city test

In cities dominated by globalised market forces, how can we achieve social equity and justice? For any sharing economy idea, we need to ask what will it do to fix the big problems confronting us all.
Riders on San Francisco’s Muni light rail system. David Lytle

What public transit can learn from Uber and Lyft

Millions of Americans rely on public transit to get to school, work or stores, but many can’t get the service they need. ‘Uberizing’ transit by offering more options on demand could fill the gaps.

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