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The sharing economy in the Global South and sustainability transitions: An assessment of the sustainability claims and sustainability transitions in Metro Manila, Philippines

Roxas, Maria Cathrina Margarita LU (2016) In IIIEE Masters Thesis IMEN56 20161
The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
Abstract
The sharing economy, new and still evolving, is being put forward as a potentially disruptive
sustainable solution to economic, social and environmental problems. Its design is mainly
shaped and analysed by people from the Global North, while the spread of sharing economy
initiatives in the Global South has escaped the purview of scholars. More so, the sustainability
potentials claimed by proponents and actors in the field lack empirical investigation. This
thesis aims to contribute to the discourse by assessing the state of the sharing economy in the
Global South as represented by Metro Manila, and in relation to its ability to truly contribute
to sustainability. In order to achieve this, the study utilises the sustainability... (More)
The sharing economy, new and still evolving, is being put forward as a potentially disruptive
sustainable solution to economic, social and environmental problems. Its design is mainly
shaped and analysed by people from the Global North, while the spread of sharing economy
initiatives in the Global South has escaped the purview of scholars. More so, the sustainability
potentials claimed by proponents and actors in the field lack empirical investigation. This
thesis aims to contribute to the discourse by assessing the state of the sharing economy in the
Global South as represented by Metro Manila, and in relation to its ability to truly contribute
to sustainability. In order to achieve this, the study utilises the sustainability pillars with the
core framings tasks and sustainability transitions framework. Data collection methods
included literature analysis, more than 25 in-depth interviews, and participant observation.
This study shows that the sustainability claims of the sharing economy in Metro Manila is
somewhat similar to the Global North yet with key differences especially in terms of potential
implications to sustainability. The expansion of the sharing economy across a wide range of
economic sectors (i.e. transportation, services, money, spaces, logistics, food, goods and
learning) is almost due to necessity; current prevalent regimes in the Global South fall short of
providing basic needs and services such as efficient public transportation, employment
opportunities and extra income. Hence, economic and social sustainability are the main
diagnostic and motivational framings employed to attract users. Through strategic alignment
of the sharing economy to urgent socio-economic problems while avoiding direct
confrontation with incumbent industries, the sharing economy is able to grow with minimal
resistance from prevailing regimes. However, because of the lack of environmental
dimensions, the sharing economy is failing to actualise a holistic contribution to sustainability.
Instead, at its current state, it is heading towards a more capitalistic pathway, fueling
consumption, which will likely add to the growing urbanization problems of Metro Manila.
This study stresses the need to better harness the potentials of the sharing economy before it
runs counter to its promise to sustainability. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Roxas, Maria Cathrina Margarita LU
supervisor
organization
course
IMEN56 20161
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
sharing economy, Global South, Metro Manila, framing, sustainability transitions
publication/series
IIIEE Masters Thesis
report number
2016:11
ISSN
1401-9191
language
English
id
8890917
date added to LUP
2016-09-06 12:36:16
date last changed
2016-09-06 12:36:16
@misc{8890917,
  abstract     = {{The sharing economy, new and still evolving, is being put forward as a potentially disruptive
sustainable solution to economic, social and environmental problems. Its design is mainly
shaped and analysed by people from the Global North, while the spread of sharing economy
initiatives in the Global South has escaped the purview of scholars. More so, the sustainability
potentials claimed by proponents and actors in the field lack empirical investigation. This
thesis aims to contribute to the discourse by assessing the state of the sharing economy in the
Global South as represented by Metro Manila, and in relation to its ability to truly contribute
to sustainability. In order to achieve this, the study utilises the sustainability pillars with the
core framings tasks and sustainability transitions framework. Data collection methods
included literature analysis, more than 25 in-depth interviews, and participant observation.
This study shows that the sustainability claims of the sharing economy in Metro Manila is
somewhat similar to the Global North yet with key differences especially in terms of potential
implications to sustainability. The expansion of the sharing economy across a wide range of
economic sectors (i.e. transportation, services, money, spaces, logistics, food, goods and
learning) is almost due to necessity; current prevalent regimes in the Global South fall short of
providing basic needs and services such as efficient public transportation, employment
opportunities and extra income. Hence, economic and social sustainability are the main
diagnostic and motivational framings employed to attract users. Through strategic alignment
of the sharing economy to urgent socio-economic problems while avoiding direct
confrontation with incumbent industries, the sharing economy is able to grow with minimal
resistance from prevailing regimes. However, because of the lack of environmental
dimensions, the sharing economy is failing to actualise a holistic contribution to sustainability.
Instead, at its current state, it is heading towards a more capitalistic pathway, fueling
consumption, which will likely add to the growing urbanization problems of Metro Manila.
This study stresses the need to better harness the potentials of the sharing economy before it
runs counter to its promise to sustainability.}},
  author       = {{Roxas, Maria Cathrina Margarita}},
  issn         = {{1401-9191}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{IIIEE Masters Thesis}},
  title        = {{The sharing economy in the Global South and sustainability transitions: An assessment of the sustainability claims and sustainability transitions in Metro Manila, Philippines}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}