Tracking the institutional logics of the sharing economy

Book chapter, 2019

This chapter explores field-level logics associated with the sharing economy and how these logics can be categorized in relation to different characteristic features of that economy. It thereby links together core principles of the sharing economy-the access, platform and community-based economy-with market and non-market orders so as to create a better understanding for those tensions being part of the sharing economy and how they can be overcome. Empirically, the chapter analyzes 7362 social media posts and defines field-level logics through juxtaposing the core principles with market/non-market orders. Six field-level logics are identified: abundance, scarcity, profit, sustainability, global and local logics. The sorting tool of these field-level logics and their associated institutional orders provides clarity in relation to the blurred concepts of accessing, sharing and transferring; the variety of motives of users/consumers; and the reasons for parties to provide their services within the sharing economy. The chapter also contributes to previous research through linking together field-level logics with orders to create understandings for logics on phenomena levels and specifically related to the sharing economy.