3FOOD

Third Industrial Revolution Consulting Group
The increasing emergence of prosumers is strongly linked to the spread of sharing and a
collaborative economy, characterized by a flat hierarchy, lateral power and network
organization. The Sharing Economy covers a multitude of different business models, all of which
aim to optimize resource use in order to lower utilization costs or reduce environmental
impacts. To evaluate, in the best possible way, the impact the Sharing Economy is having on the
society and the environment, it is essential to know the different specifications and
characteristics of this new economic paradigm as well as the people’s motivation to participate
in sharing activities. These activities can be classified into three different types of Sharing
Economy operating models: 1) peer-to-peer exchanges using internet sites as intermediation
platforms; 2) object sharing implying a (public or private) third party owning the goods to be
shared; 3) collaborative models where users manage the resources and means of production
themselves. The impact of digitalization and the use of the Internet of Things infrastructure
vary considerably, depending on the respective activity and operating model.
Peer-to-peer exchanges, mostly between private persons, include buying, selling, lending and
sharing of new and used goods, as well as services. Whereas the trade of second-hand goods –
via eBay or similar online intermediation platforms – presents limited competition to
commerce, the impact is different for selling new goods or providing services via internet
platforms. If such businesses are operated by private persons, i.e. via Uber for mobility
purposes or Airbnb for accommodation issues, these enter into direct competition with
conventional commerce and require that the state guarantee a level playing field between the
emerging Sharing Economy and existing market economy businesses. The State must ensure,
via legal action, that different business models conform to the same regulations and that
different operators and service providers comply with the same legal obligations. In the Sharing
Economy however, a distinction should be made between professional actors and private
persons operating only occasionally. Corresponding criteria should be fixed by regulation; in
doing so, one approach could be to differentiate using thresholds, taking into account the level
of income generated or the regularity with which the service is provided. It is important to
make sure that all actors comply with their legal, tax and social obligations. A corresponding
framework should be clarified or specified if necessary. The above distinction also matters in
consumer rights, as warranties, product quality, imposed security and sanitary norms or
qualifications can differ, depending on the status of the provider. Relevant information to the
consumers should be clear and freely accessible. It is a big challenge to anticipate and
recommend suitable regulations that remain pertinent in a rapidly and continuously changing
environment. The Communication Internet acts as a stimulant and promoter for new peer-topeer
exchange models, and the deployment of an Internet of Things platform will enlarge such
Sharing Economy models to more economic sectors.
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