The impact of country-level sustainability and digitalization on the performance: sharing economy dashboard

Abstract

PurposeThe Sharing Economy (SE) has turned around the concepts of ownership and access, promoting not only an alternative consumption method, but also a more sustainable one. Using digital platforms, this phenomenon expects to achieve a better use of the idle capacity of resources, promote meaningful and trusting communities and contribute to reducing the environmental harm. The huge increase of popularity of this model has lined up with the Sustainable Development Goals proclamation, and the commitment from governments with the search for more sustainable models. This study analyzes the relationship of the SE with sustainability in general, and the Sustainable Development Goals in specific.Design/methodology/approachThrough the analysis of the action plans proposed by governments and the expected contributions of sharing platforms to sustainability, the authors analyze the improvements and assistance that the Sharing Economy could offer to countries.FindingsThe main findings suggest that the SE can assist countries to achieve their sustainability goals and to further advance towards a more sustainable consumption and living model in order to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals.Originality/valueAlthough this topic is still to be further developed, the SE seems to be fulfilling the expectations as the path towards sustainability.