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A Framework to Assess the Sustainability of Platform Economy: The Case of Barcelona Ecosystem

Author

Listed:
  • Mayo Fuster Morell

    (Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA)

  • Ricard Espelt

    (Internet Interdisciplinary Institute, Open University of Catalonia, 08018 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

This article presents a framework for evaluating the sustainability qualities of Platform Economy initiatives. It takes into account governance, economic model, technology, data policies, social responsibility and impact. The framework has been tested empirically in a sample of one hundred commons-based peer-to-peer production cases identified in Barcelona. Data collection was based on online ethnography and structured interviews. The results reveal the different levels and tendencies of pro-democratization. It appears that the cases that are more sustainable are also sustainable in other dimensions. The analysis found a correlation between governance and technology and data models, and it further demonstrated that governance is correlated with the economic model. Both results together indicate that the governance of a platform plays a central role in its overall approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Mayo Fuster Morell & Ricard Espelt, 2019. "A Framework to Assess the Sustainability of Platform Economy: The Case of Barcelona Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-20, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:22:p:6450-:d:287608
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Moreira, Sara & Fuster Morell, Mayo, 2020. "Food Networks As Urban Commons: Case Study of a Portuguese “Prosumers” Group," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    2. Fernando Allende Álvarez & Gillian Gómez-Mediavilla & Nieves López-Estébanez & Pedro Molina Holgado & Judith Ares Barajas, 2021. "Hedgerows and Enclosures in Rural Areas: Traditional vs. Modern Land Use in Mediterranean Mountains," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Mohammadbashir Sedighi & Hamideh Parsaeiyan & Yashar Araghi, 2021. "An Empirical Study of Intention to Continue Using of Digital Ride-hailing Platforms," The Review of Socionetwork Strategies, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 489-515, November.
    4. Mayo Fuster Morell & Ricard Espelt & Melissa Renau Cano, 2020. "Sustainable Platform Economy: Connections with the Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-28, September.
    5. Mayo Fuster Morell & Ricard Espelt & Enric Senabre Hidalgo, 2021. "Data for Sustainable Platform Economy: Connections between Platform Models and Sustainable Development Goals," Data, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-11, January.
    6. Le Liu & Yinyun Yan & Xin Tian & Zuoliang Jiang, 2024. "Impact of Text and Image Information on Community Group Buying Performance: Empirical Evidence from Convenience Chain Stores," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-14, May.

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