The Sharing Econoomy

Most of us learned the culture of sharing back in kindergarten, but in recent years the idea has grown into a multibillion-dollar online marketplace offering consumers access to affordable alternatives to goods and services. The “sharing economy,” as it is known, burst out of the recession. The platform -- and the others like it -- created a community for collaborative consumption, the much-buzzed-about euphemism for what’s mine is yours (and you can find it online for a price).

The sharing economy was a knee-jerk reaction to the recession. We have a lot of stuff, space and skills that we are not necessarily using in our nine-to-five, and people are making money by sharing or selling these underutilized services.

While the sharing economy initially grew out of a need, it has since become a bona fide trend.. Among the 2,000 adults surveyed, 31 percent said they initially shared property or belongings online to make extra cash, while 36 percent identified the philosophical beliefs behind sharing as their top motivation -- evidence that researchers said pointed to a shift in motivation for those who continue to participate in the new economic model.