“The idea at the heart of the Big Society is a very simple one: that real change can’t come from government alone. We’re only going to make life better for everyone in this country if everyone plays their part – if change in our economy and our society is driven from the bottom up.” Compendium for the Civic Economy by the London-based research and design bureau 00:/ presents 25 cases on how we can envision the future, create a new form of economy, and organise society in the UK and elsewhere.
In the context of a global financial crisis as well as complex social issues and environmental change, a growing and diverse number of change-makers are already working towards a different economy. Through organisation, connection with people and use of the best approach to collaborative investment, an alternative economic platform is on the horizon. Compendium for the Civic Economy contains 25 case studies showing how the civic economy—combining the spirit of entrepreneurship with the aspiration of civic renewal—actively contributes to community resilience, everyday innovation and shared prosperity. From local food growing projects to sustainable supermarkets, community waste-to-energy plants to cooperative telecoms services, these initiatives are having a tangible impact on the social and economic realities in cities, villages and towns.
In the context of a global financial crisis as well as complex social issues and environmental change, a growing and diverse number of change-makers are already working towards a different economy. Through organisation, connection with people and use of the best approach to collaborative investment, an alternative economic platform is on the horizon. Compendium for the Civic Economy contains 25 case studies showing how the civic economy—combining the spirit of entrepreneurship with the aspiration of civic renewal—actively contributes to community resilience, everyday innovation and shared prosperity. From local food growing projects to sustainable supermarkets, community waste-to-energy plants to cooperative telecoms services, these initiatives are having a tangible impact on the social and economic realities in cities, villages and towns.
The book advocates that people should not wait
for the government to solve the crisis, but instead play an active
role in facilitating the ventures presented here. It is truly an
inspirational read for entrepreneurs, activists, policy makers and
anyone who is concerned with community empowerment and ways to
withstand the consequences of deep socio-economic and environmental
crisis. Flipping through the pages, you can find what the fertile
conditions are for this new economy to thrive and how to turn ideas
into practice.
Source: http://civiceconomy.net/
The Rise of Peer-to-Peer Companies
The sharing economy is a based on the
provision of services or goods for a limited time from consumer (not a
registered as a company) to consumer in exchange of a payment. This
transaction is done through peer-to-peer platforms that facilitate the
contact and enable consumers/peers to offer and buy products. This
operation is based on trust as much as it is based on matching offers
and demands from consumers/peers. These platforms constitute
accessibility-based systems and are the support of a growing number of
companies operating within the sharing economy.
The customer is always right
The sharing economy growth has been stirred by a combination of
circumstances. Technology and communication media development are
considered to be the main driver. Consumers’ increasing mistrust in
corporations and finally the economic crisis has decreased
consumers’ buying power. The raise of unemployment is also a strong
factor that pressed consumers into searching for alternative to
traditional business models that are more centered on their needs
as potential suppliers and buyers.
Business challenges
Companies involved in the sharing economy in Europe still face
several challenges. One of them is the lack of trust from the
users’ perspective. The second is the availability of funding
sources as many of these companies need to prove their ability at
generating stable streams of revenue. Another challenge is business
regulations and policies, or rather the lack of them.
This report from the Business Innovation Observatory explores
all these topics and provides insights into the socio-relevance of
the sharing economy, its drivers and the challenges it faces. The
report concludes by policy recommendations that would facilitate
the establishment of the sharing economy within Europe while
regulating its activities and setting quality and safety
standards.
The Sharing Economy:
accessibility Based Business Models for Peer-to-Peer Markets
Case study 12
Business Innovation Observatory
European Commission, September 2013
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