Can the Sharing Economy Contribute to Wellbeing? Exploring the Impact of the Sharing Economy on Individual and Collective Wellbeing

Much has been written about the rise of the sharing economy. The sharing economy, also known as the gig economy and collaborative economy, among others, is recognized for its potential to create more sustainable, connected, and human-centric societies, its critics discuss its multiple negative externalities. However, given the diversity of sharing economy initiatives, it is expected that their outcomes may vary greatly depending on the context, situational factors, and the typology of the initiative.

This Research Topic aims to explore how different sharing economy initiatives and experiences can contribute to or hinder individual and collective societal wellbeing. Wellbeing is a well-researched topic in the field of psychology, but also it has attracted attention in consumer studies, in particular among transformative consumer researchers. Wellbeing has often been linked to happiness and life satisfaction as well as personal growth, autonomy, and self-acceptance. Beyond individual wellbeing, community wellbeing, which focuses on quality of life and group satisfaction, encompasses various dimensions from social and economic to health and environmental wellbeing. Research is emerging on how sharing initiatives can support individual, family, and collective or community wellbeing. Given the broad nature of this concept, we welcome contributions that can stimulate further discussion on this topic.

Specific topics may include, but are not limited to:

·      Emotional wellbeing and participation in sharing economy initiatives in the pre and post COVID era.

·      Influences of peer-to-peer experiences on users’ and suppliers’ wellbeing (e.g., host-guest relationship in peer-to-peer accommodations).

·      Critical perspectives on the negative psychological outcomes of sharing economy initiatives for users and non-users (e.g., the gentrification of neighborhoods).

·      The health and safety considerations in the sharing or gig economy.

·      Creative solutions for societal wellbeing needs.

·      Wellbeing generated by sharing economy platforms (profit and nonprofit) as the result of a strategic approach.

·      The emergence of sharing initiatives as an unexpected actor of social change in times of crisis.

·      Collaboration of sharing economy ventures and platforms with other actors (e.g., for profit companies, policy makers) to generate wellbeing.

·      Diverse examples of societal innovation and wellbeing that can be generated from sharing economy initiatives.

Contributions can vary and focus on different types of sharing economy platforms (online/offline, different sectors, commercial/non-profit etc.). Different methodological approaches and cross-cultural comparisons are also encouraged.