Sharing economy: the case of Airbnb in Germany

Abstract

[eng] The sharing economy is a controversial and contentious concept built around the advancement of information and communication technologies, digital platforms and the exchange (usually occasional and for a limited time) of underutilised assets between providers and consumers. Airbnb, the leading digital platform for tourist rentals, argues that its activities are in line with this new economic model, especially due to its home-sharing rental service. This article, based on the treatment and filtering of different statistical and cartographic sources, expands the empirical evidence on Airbnb's activities in one of the largest cities on the European continent, focusing on its capital and most important city Berlin, where we will analyse the characterisation of Airbnb's offer within the city and its degree of contribution to the sharing economy. The analysis clearly shows that "home sharing" is relevant, but the commercial offer is also very significant, albeit geographically uneven, in the way the platform operates in the city. In any case, digital platforms are an increasingly relevant part of tourism accommodation activities globally, and further discussion on the relationship between platforms and the sharing economy is needed.