„Local Heroes & Global Players. How fair is the Sharing Economy?“

Event Details

The Vice-Mayor of Vienna, Renate Brauner, invites to the international conference:
„Local Heroes & Global Players. How fair is the Sharing Economy?“

With electronic devices like smartphones and tablets on the rise, Airbnb, Uber and other platforms stir up the service sector and hit the headlines. What started off as harmless peer-to-peer networks in the neighbourhoods has long developed into a profitable business case of powerful concerns and their investors. One thing is for sure: the offerings of the sharing economy, be it in the accommodation or taxi sectors, are dramatically increasing; and they are here to stay. For so far regulated services, they present competitors that question the long-standing public and societal fabric of quality standards, regulations for worker and consumer protection, tolls and taxes.

This international conference investigates various facets of the topic and shows how other cities have reacted to the challenges. How fair is the sharing economy? What are its impacts on local value added? Which sectors are particularly affected? How do labour conditions change, and does this still meet our understanding of “good labour”?