Plattformgenossenschaften: Eine Antwort auf die Herausforderungen der Plattformökonomie?

Digital platforms are an indispensable part of our daily life. They offer many advantages for customers as well as for providers of products or services. But there is also criticism, especially because of the abuse of their market power, the circumvention of legal regulations or questionable working conditions for the "Clickworkers". That is why stronger regulation and a better regulatory framework are required, especially for the powerful companies of "platform capitalism". But there are also more and more voices who protect platform cooperatives as an alternative and answer to the problems mentioned. This article discusses the possible advantages and challenges of cooperatively operated platforms compared to a "typical" platform financed with venture capital. Cooperatives are basically well suited to operate a digital platform in the interests of the (member) user groups and also to influence the rules of the game and working conditions. Platform cooperatives can also stimulate competition. In this respect, cooperatives are definitely an answer to the challenges of the platform economy. It is questionable whether (new) cooperatives can hold their own against large, investor-driven platforms in at least one niche. However, the potential for cooperation opportunities for platforms with specific user interests is large and diverse.