Barcelona sharing ecosystem: Analysis of 100 platforms and 10 paradigmatic cases

Abstract

This chapter analyzes Barcelona's collaborative economy platform ecosystem through a study of 100 platforms and 10 paradigmatic cases. It presents an overview of how these platforms, varying in areas such as culture, P2P economy, and mobility, impact the city. The majority of these platforms are based on digital interactions, with a significant focus on the international community. Aspects of governance are explored, showing varied user participation in platforms and different roles within them. In terms of economic model, the research highlights the diversity in financing forms and the relevance of non-monetary contributions. Knowledge policies indicate a preference for protecting rights or not using specific licenses for user-generated content. Technological policies and social responsibility are also discussed, noting the role of gender in participation and the platforms' impact on social inclusion and inter-institutional cooperation. This analysis underscores the interrelation between the democratic governance of platforms and their economic models, suggesting that more democratic governance leads to equally democratic economic models. Finally, it concludes that, beyond the controversial and unethical "unicorn" platform models, there exists an alternative model of the common-good-oriented platform economy based on cooperative principles, though the main challenge for these projects is their scalability and sustainability.