Trust in the Sharing Economy

A conceptual research model for the role of trust with regard to the consumers’ and suppliers’ intentions to engage in this economy is outlined and a questionnaire is proposed, which addresses these targets in their dimensions ability, integrity, and benevolence.

Abstract

Trust has been in the focus of research on business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce in the last decade. The rise of consumer-to-consumer (C2C) markets in the context of the sharing economy, however, has posed new challenges and questions regarding the dimensionality and role of trust in online transactions. We outline a conceptual research model for the role of trust with regard to the consumers’ and suppliers’ intentions to engage in this economy. Our model differentiates between three substantial targets of trust, that is, trust towards peer, platform, and product (3P). We propose and evaluate a questionnaire, which addresses these targets in their dimensions ability, integrity, and benevolence.