Disciplines:
BusinessDavide Proserpio is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. In his research, Davide seeks to measure and quantify the impact of digital data and platforms on industries and markets, particularly sharing economy companies like Airbnb. He holds a B.S. from Politecnico di Milano (Milan, Italy), an M.S. from Carlos III University (Madrid, Spain), and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Boston University.
By Davide Proserpio, University of Southern California
The global health crisis has rocked the sharing economy. Uber and Lyft drivers have seen their incomes plunge as people shelter in place. Airbnb bookings have tumbled, and its services have been banned in some cities and states. Gig workers at a number of companies are protesting a lack of basic protections like hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and sick pay.
This crisis has brought to a head problems that have been lurking in the wings for years. As a professor who researches the sharing economy, I’ve found that the features that make it so successful — especially its flexible, decentralized, independent workforce — create both unique opportunities and vulnerabilities. The stresses of our current situation have made these contradictions clearer than ever.
Will this public health emergency push the sharing economy to evolve? Or will it throw the entire business model into question?…
Read the full article at Entrepreneur.
This article was produced by Footnote in partnership with USC’s Marshall School of Business.
Get in touch about this workBy Ravi Iyer of the University of Southern California
If the sharing economy cannot face its fundamental vulnerabilities in a moment of crisis, it could spell the end of its meteoric rise as a business model.
By Hyo Kang of University of Southern California
If the sharing economy cannot face its fundamental vulnerabilities in a moment of crisis, it could spell the end of its meteoric rise as a business model.
By Lu Zhang of Michigan State University
If the sharing economy cannot face its fundamental vulnerabilities in a moment of crisis, it could spell the end of its meteoric rise as a business model.
A secure, centralized workspace where faculty upload notes, papers, and lecture materials—and instantly receive clear, accurate, publication-ready drafts across formats: op-eds, research briefs, executive summaries, pitches, public commentary, and more.
Discover More
