Collaborative consumption after community tragedies: public space for communal healing

Marketplace violence takes many forms, from shootings at supermarkets, to bombings at concert halls, to terrorist attacks on cafes and restaurants. But in every case, the marketplace itself is the target and the victims are those engaged in community-based consumption in public spaces. When struck by these vicious acts, the public space has been literally torn asunder, and the resulting trauma is collective. These communal wounds require the communal healing offered by collaborative consumption (CC), generated by purposeful consumption practices in public spaces. There are three central facets of this CC in the marketplace that facilitate community healing and restoration after violent trauma: (1) physicality of consumption in public spaces; (2) reaffirmation of the common identity through meaningful consumption; and (3) ritualized expressions of grief. Institutions can reinforce the three ways CC aids in community recovery after marketplace violence by providing the necessary space for grieving and dedicating permanent memorials over time.