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Dissecting the sharing paradigm: A case-study research of rural Japan

Ninivaggi, Gabriele (2021) COSM40 20211
Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
Abstract
The sharing economy emerged in the last decade as an innovative business model in response to economic fallout, societal distress, and surging awareness over the devastating effects of the climate crisis. It pledges to repudiate mass consumption in favour of a democratization of access to common resources.
This thesis seeks to dissect how the Japanese government has employed the sharing economy––and the theoretical basis at its foundation, the sharing paradigm––as a potential solution for salient socio-economic challenges faced by rural Japan. By adopting a case study approach–– examining the municipalities of Yuzawa City, Shimabara City and Taku City– this paper aims to assess how the sharing paradigm is depicted as a viable alternative... (More)
The sharing economy emerged in the last decade as an innovative business model in response to economic fallout, societal distress, and surging awareness over the devastating effects of the climate crisis. It pledges to repudiate mass consumption in favour of a democratization of access to common resources.
This thesis seeks to dissect how the Japanese government has employed the sharing economy––and the theoretical basis at its foundation, the sharing paradigm––as a potential solution for salient socio-economic challenges faced by rural Japan. By adopting a case study approach–– examining the municipalities of Yuzawa City, Shimabara City and Taku City– this paper aims to assess how the sharing paradigm is depicted as a viable alternative to existing modes of rural revitalization. Through the utilization of discursive framing, this study examines how the sharing paradigm is depicted in its diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational frameworks against the backdrop of a socio-technical transition. The findings suggest the existence of persisting contradictions within the sharing paradigm, its lack of consistency, and its agenda-driven element. The paradigm fails to establish a viable alternative able to address the challenges affecting rural Japan, and often falls back on conventional yardsticks of economic performance and cost-benefit maximization. (Less)
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author
Ninivaggi, Gabriele
supervisor
organization
course
COSM40 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Sharing economy, Rural economy, Socio-technical transition, Revitalization Policy, Innovation, Rural Japan, Framing, Sharing paradigm
language
English
id
9062656
date added to LUP
2021-08-11 14:17:04
date last changed
2021-08-19 10:27:53
@misc{9062656,
  abstract     = {{The sharing economy emerged in the last decade as an innovative business model in response to economic fallout, societal distress, and surging awareness over the devastating effects of the climate crisis. It pledges to repudiate mass consumption in favour of a democratization of access to common resources.
This thesis seeks to dissect how the Japanese government has employed the sharing economy––and the theoretical basis at its foundation, the sharing paradigm––as a potential solution for salient socio-economic challenges faced by rural Japan. By adopting a case study approach–– examining the municipalities of Yuzawa City, Shimabara City and Taku City– this paper aims to assess how the sharing paradigm is depicted as a viable alternative to existing modes of rural revitalization. Through the utilization of discursive framing, this study examines how the sharing paradigm is depicted in its diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational frameworks against the backdrop of a socio-technical transition. The findings suggest the existence of persisting contradictions within the sharing paradigm, its lack of consistency, and its agenda-driven element. The paradigm fails to establish a viable alternative able to address the challenges affecting rural Japan, and often falls back on conventional yardsticks of economic performance and cost-benefit maximization.}},
  author       = {{Ninivaggi, Gabriele}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Dissecting the sharing paradigm: A case-study research of rural Japan}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}