Sociology Colloquium Series: Juliet Schor, Boston College

The rise of the sharing economy has given rise to considerable controversy. Proponents praise its efficiency, value to consumers, and ability to create economic opportunity. Critics argue it is degrading labor conditions and increasing inequality. Both sides, however, agree that it is a transformative development. In this talk I will discuss three dimensions of these debates: what users think about the transformative aspects of the sector (moral aspiration), its impacts on inequality, and whether it is contributing to precarity. The talk will be based on six years of research on a range of platforms and sharing innovations, including both non-profits and for-profits, and comprising more than 250 interviews with users, ethnographic research, and a large-scale quantitative study of one platform (Airbnb).











When: Fri., Feb. 10, 2017 at 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Where: Graduate Center, CUNY
365 Fifth Ave.
212-817-7000
Price: Free
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The rise of the sharing economy has given rise to considerable controversy. Proponents praise its efficiency, value to consumers, and ability to create economic opportunity. Critics argue it is degrading labor conditions and increasing inequality. Both sides, however, agree that it is a transformative development. In this talk I will discuss three dimensions of these debates: what users think about the transformative aspects of the sector (moral aspiration), its impacts on inequality, and whether it is contributing to precarity. The talk will be based on six years of research on a range of platforms and sharing innovations, including both non-profits and for-profits, and comprising more than 250 interviews with users, ethnographic research, and a large-scale quantitative study of one platform (Airbnb).

Buy tickets/get more info now