From Sharing Economy to Sharing Cities Networks: Collaborative/Collective (Re)Actions of Cities to Urban Platformization

Abstract

The paper opens by analysing the evolution of the “sharing economy” framework in urban contexts, with an emphasis on how these narratives have changed over time. It then examines the involvement of local governments, highlighting the shift from a single-city (“within-city”) to a multi-city (“between-cities”) approach through which reflection on the impact of the sharing economy has become collective. Coalitions of sharing cities are indeed emerging to confront the risks and endorse the benefits being reaped by sharing-oriented platforms. This is followed by an analysis of cities networks practices.

Three typologies of networks are identified – “forerunners”, “dealing with” and “newcomers” – with the focus on an analysis of the “dealing with” category. The study was performed using a qualitative methodology based on the comparative case study analysis of five cities coalitions. The comparative analysis applied to their features, governance models, goals, tools and forms of collaboration is based on semi-structured interviews and participant observation during their events. The advantage of the contribution was to clarify the potentialities of the emerging sharing cities coalitions in terms of common cities actions in the transformation of contemporary society, identifying four approaches: consultancy, action, testing and nudging.