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Sharing with minimal regulation? Evidence from neighborhood book exchange

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  • Schippers, Anouk L.
  • Soetevent, Adriaan R.

Abstract

Informal peer-to-peer services to share or barter goods often succumb to free riding behavior because they lack the tools to enforce compliance and reciprocity. We collect unique quantitative data on a form of unregulated peer-to-peer in-kind exchange that appears internationally viable: the free exchange of books via privately owned public bookcases, also known as little free libraries. Other than previously studied honor-based exchanges, little free libraries use a non-monetary one-to-one book exchange rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Schippers, Anouk L. & Soetevent, Adriaan R., 2024. "Sharing with minimal regulation? Evidence from neighborhood book exchange," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:161:y:2024:i:c:s0014292123002672
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2023.104639
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Peer-to-peer exchange; Honor systems; Free riding; Social norms; Altruistic preferences; Sharing economy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D49 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Other
    • H42 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Publicly Provided Private Goods

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