Who Rules the Sharing Economy? New Research Highlights Trust Gap in Regulation Debate

The rise of the sharing economy platforms like Uber and Airbnb has transformed how we travel, work, and live. But behind the convenience lies a complex challenge: how do we regulate this rapidly evolving sector?

In his research seminar Dr. Mohamed Mohamed from Department of Digital & Data-Driven Marketing with his co-authors Professor Chanaka Jayawardhena (Surrey) and Professor Sabine Benoit (SMU) delve deeper into the heart of the debate, revealing a landscape where stakeholders ¨C from drivers and hosts to city councils, customers, and hotel chains ¨C often have clashing interests and differing levels of trust in who should set the rules.

It's not simply about who benefits most financially. The core issue revolves around trust and representation. They identify that the effectiveness of sharing economy regulation hinges less on the rules themselves and more on who stakeholders trust to create and enforce them, and whether they feel their voices are truly being heard.

This presents critical considerations for both sharing economy platforms and policymakers. Building a sustainable and fair sharing economy isn't just about writing more rules. It's about building stronger relationships, fostering mutual trust, and developing collaborative regulatory frameworks.