Understanding the Sharing Economy -- Drivers and Impediments for Participation in Peer-to-Peer Rental

This article develops a questionnaire for assessing motives for and against participating in what is casually referred to as the "Sharing Economy" and investigates drivers and impediments for user activity in such markets by means of an online survey.

Abstract

As peer-to-peer coordinated products and services increasingly constitute competition for traditional businesses in many areas, understanding the underlying user motives of provision and consumption is key -- not only for business operators, but also for researchers investigating such markets. In this article, we develop a questionnaire for assessing motives for and against participating in what is casually referred to as the "Sharing Economy." More specifically, we focus on peer-to-peer rental services and investigate drivers and impediments for user activity in such markets by means of an online survey with over 600 participants.