Shelly Kreiczer-Levy (ACLB): Consumption Property in the Sharing Economy. From Room for Debate, should companies have responsibility for all contract workers, even if they don’t employ them directly? Michelle Chen on how bad the sharing economy is for workers — and this is how reformers and activists might win protections for Silicon Valley’s so-called “independent contractors”. With the rise of the “gig economy” has come a debate over who is an employee, and who is truly an “independent contractor” — do we need to create a new category of worker just for the Uber era? Marina Gorbis on designing a new operating system for work. Jeff Spross on why America’s sharing economy needs a massive expansion of the welfare state. Think outside the boss: Trebor Scholz on cooperative alternatives to the sharing economy.
Trebor Scholz and Nathan Schneider on why the sharing economy must share ownership. The post-ownership society: Monica Potts on how the “sharing economy” allows Millennials to cope with downward mobility, and also makes them poorer. Will you fight for your right to help Airbnb make money from you? Tom Slee on Airbnb’s business in New York City. In the new world of work, is Uber the villain or a hero? Rana Foroohar wants to know. On the road to nowhere: Uber drivers are getting creative in their fight for basic workplace rights. Seattle will allow Uber and Lyft drivers to form unions.
Why revolution is no longer possible: Byung-Chul Han on how the tough logic of capitalism prevails even at the heart of the sharing economy — as nice as it may be to share, no one gives away anything for free. Shane Ferro on how no one is actually sure if the “sharing economy” even exists. Sarah Kessler on how the “sharing economy” is dead, and we killed it: Five years ago, everybody was excited about the idea of using tech to borrow things like power drills — in practice, though, not so much.
