The Value Creation Model in the Sharing Economy

The sharing economy has experienced exponential growth over the last decade, mainly based on its digital nature and on the changing trends regarding consumption habits. Based on digital platforms, this new consumption model promotes access over ownership and allows users to create communities with like-minded people to share their resources. Due to its popularization, it is necessary to analyze how the business model followed by sharing platforms and the peculiar characteristics of this phenomenon can generate different types of value. This chapter analyses how the sharing economy generates value from three different perspectives (economic, environmental, and social) and how it may represent a better alternative for consumption when compared to non-sharing alternatives.