Sharing and the city

Sharing of goods, services and skills is seen as one solution to urban sustainability challenges. However, its sustainability potential and institutional processes have not been systematically scrutinised. To develop evidence base and support sustainable sharing, a systematic and comparative analysis of the role of cities in sharing is needed. The project aims to examine, test and advance knowledge on the role of city governments in the initiation, implementation and institutionalisation of sharing organisations across cities in Europe. The objectives are:1 INITIATION: To examine how city governments engage with sharing based on their sustainability visions and strategies.
2 IMPLEMENTATION: To study the implementation channels cities employ to engage with sharing.
3 INSTITUTIONALISATION: To investigate the role of cities in the institutionalisation of sharing. The research will produce a step-change in sustainability science via a multi- and interdisciplinary study of sharing economy. Using a combination of methods (case studies, interviews, participant observation, infra-labs, workshops) we will provide a systematic, integrative and comparative analysis of the city role in sharing, with empirically tested hypotheses of institutionalisation of sharing across cities and policy recommendations. This will open new horizons for research and avenues for fostering sustainability in society. The expertise and commitment of the researcher is complemented by prominent collaborators.