Publish at September 27 2015 Updated April 03 2025
You say the Internet has changed everything? Talk to the music industry, which found itself losing some of its profits to easy-to-use illegal download platforms. It has had to change its methods, such as focusing more on live performances, selling music at low prices in dematerialized versions and teaming up with sites like Spotify to replenish the coffers. Still in the cultural sphere, Netflix has forced some American broadcasters to offer their cheap version of a legal viewing platform (e.g. HBO Now) to counter piracy.
This seems to be the new economic game. Small gazelles are springing up, offering an in-demand service at bargain prices, becoming popular and forcing older industries to move. For example, Über is pushing the cab industry to the limit. Indeed, for much lower rates, a city dweller can use the app and find a driver who will take them to their destination.
Some call it the "new economy". Yet this term was first used in the late 90s by economists who saw the growth of companies in the telecommunications sector. Today, observers apply it to the surge of young companies on the Net that are literally shaking up the more traditional economy. And this applies to all sectors of activity.
Retail is suffering more and more from the presence of the Amazon and eBay of this world, forcing retailers to offer more sales and services online. Airbnb is having a direct impact on the hotel industry, with the exchange of accommodation between users. In the field of video entertainment, Steam has literally revolutionized the way computer games are bought, leading to dematerialization and offering numerous discounts on titles often sold at full price on consoles.
In short, new Internet services are gaining in importance and popularity. Nearly a quarter of French people claimed in 2015 to have used a sharing economy service like Über or Airbnb. And 30% intend to do so in the coming year. Little by little, economic "uberization" is gaining a place in people's hearts. Good news for some, who see it as a way of rethinking the economy and the role of the state in it. "Finally, services that really care about consumers," they say.
Obviously, this new economy is hurting the older industries. Cab drivers in France and elsewhere in the world have reacted, sometimes violently, to what they consider "unfair" competition from Über. After all, they - unlike the app's participants - have to pay for expensive licenses.
What's more, this relatively new business model is forcing legislators to take a closer look at it, firstly to try and keep jobs in all sectors, and secondly to protect consumers. Current rules were often not designed with virtual applications or businesses in mind. What's more, this new economy of freelancers is leading to even greater job insecurity. Indeed, some services such as Homejoy have been forced to close their doors by legal action taken against them to reclassify freelancers as employees (with the benefits that go with it).
The sharing economy is also widely criticized for its hypocrisy. Some criticize the fact that the media talk about a new economy, when in reality, these applications have simply commercialized our cars, our homes, etc. It's not a question of a new economy. It's not a cooperative economy as some seem to believe, but a model similar to the old ones, where CEOs and shareholders make huge profits while users get the crumbs.
Especially since the sharing economy doesn't share that much. At least, not with the taxman. Most of these companies place their profits in tax havens. Others question these virtual services, particularly the sensitive data that is shared en masse on these applications. The Ashley Madison hack in the summer of 2015 was a wake-up call.
Despite these criticisms, the sharing economy is not about to run out of steam. These services currently offered at low rates are far too much of a consumer delight to see a decline. However, the crisis against Über and others is beginning to cast a shadow over this emerging economy. The question is, have we ignored ethics to be driven, housed and showered with low-cost goods?
Illustration: Alexey Boldin, shutterstock
References
Delsol, Emmanuelle. "L'Uberisation Du Travail Décryptée Par The Economist." Usine-digitale.fr. Last updated January 6, 2015. http://www.usine-digitale.fr/editorial/l-uberisation-du-travail-decryptee-par-the-economist.N306146.
"Parisian Taxis Attack UberPOP Drivers." RTL.fr. Last updated June 13, 2015. http://www.rtl.fr/actu/societe-faits-divers/des-taxis-parisiens-s-en-prennent-aux-chauffeurs-d-uberpop-7778711975.
Knaebel, Rachel. "Uber, Airbnb, Ebay... : La Pseudo " économie Du Partage " Planque Ses Bénéfices Dans Les Paradis Fiscaux." Basta! Last updated September 21, 2015. http://www.bastamag.net/Uber-Airbnb-Ebay-la-pseudo-economie-du-partage-planque-ses-benefices-dans-les.
Le Noan, Erwan. "The Collaborative Economy: An Opportunity To Rethink An Archaic State." Atlantico.fr. Last updated: July 16, 2015. http://www.atlantico.fr/decryptage/economie-collaborative-occasion-repenser-etat-archaique-2239924.html.
Marin, Jérôme. "Homejoy, First Major Failure Of The "Uber-economy"." Silicon 2.0. Last updated July 30, 2015. http://siliconvalley.blog.lemonde.fr/2015/07/30/homejoy-premier-echec-majeur-de-luber-economie/.
Renault, Enguérand. "Les Français Adhèrent De Plus En Plus à L'économie Du Partage." Le Figaro. Last updated: July 13, 2015. http://www.lefigaro.fr/secteur/high-tech/2015/07/12/32001-20150712ARTFIG00145-les-francais-adherent-de-plus-en-plus-a-l-economie-du-partage.php.
Sertillange, Audrey. "L'uber économie, Ou La Nouvelle économie Qui Se Veut Celle Du Partage." Économie Numérique - Université De Strasbourg. Last updated September 5, 2015. http://blog.economie-numerique.net/2015/09/05/luber-economie-ou-la-nouvelle-economie-qui-se-veut-celle-du-partage/.
Sibille, Hugues. "Affaire Uber : économie Collaborative Et économie Coopérative Ne Sont Pas Synonymes." La-Croix.com. Last updated July 20, 2015. http://www.la-croix.com/Solidarite/Dans-l-economie/Affaire-Uber-economie-collaborative-et-economie-cooperative-ne-sont-pas-synonymes-2015-07-20-1336177.
Tetreau, Édouard. "Pourquoi Il Faut Repenser La nouvelle économie." Lesechos.fr. Last updated September 2, 2015. http://www.lesechos.fr/idees-debats/editos-analyses/021295571005-pourquoi-il-faut-repenser-la-nouvelle-economie-1149812.php#.
"Uber, Airbnb : Ces "jeunes Pousses" Du Numérique Qui Rebattent Les Cartes De L'économie." RTL.fr. Last updated: June 18, 2015. http://www.rtl.fr/actu/economie/uber-airbnb-ces-jeunes-pousses-du-numerique-qui-rebattent-les-cartes-de-l-economie-7778783044.
"Uber, Blablacar, Une Nouvelle économie?" Stratéginove. Accessed September 24, 2015. http://strateginove.com/uber-blablacar-une-nouvelle-economie/.
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