Digital technologies and the generative mechanisms driving value creation in the sharing economy
Mota, Eric Mazzoni, João Fernando Rossi Klein, Peter G.
Mota, Eric
Mazzoni, João Fernando Rossi
Klein, Peter G.
Other Names
Location
Time Period
Advisors
Original Date
Digitization Date
Issue Date
2026
Type
Book chapter
Genre
Keywords
Subjects (LCSH)
Citation
Mota, Eric C., Mazzoni, João Fernando Rossi, Klein, Peter G. Digital Technologies and the Generative Mechanisms Driving Value Creation in the Sharing Economy. In. Slettli, V., & Baumann, S. (Eds.). (2026). Value Creation in Digital Platforms and Business Ecosystems: Networks, Relationships and the Platform Markets (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003506997
Abstract
The sharing economy has evolved into a driver of change, leveraging digital technologies to facilitate access to previously unavailable services and create value for stakeholders. While existing research highlights the sharing economy’s benefits such as increased trust, service accessibility, and lower transaction costs, the underlying mechanisms that create value in this system remain underexplored. Through a theoretical review spanning work across multiple disciplines, we address this gap by identifying and analyzing three generative mechanisms driving value creation in the sharing economy: access to third-party resources, reduced transaction costs, and bidirectional feedback. These mechanisms are the primary drivers of the varied benefits of the sharing economy and are responsible for the redeployment of idle assets, transaction efficiency, and fostering high-quality interactions between users and providers. We reveal how these mechanisms interact to enhance value at different stages of the value chain, from user engagement to platform operation. We also explore the role of digital technologies in shaping these mechanisms and enabling the emergence of new organizations. We advance theory and empirical work by unveiling the theoretical mechanisms driving value creation in the sharing economy, the unique differences of this economic system, and enabling more accurate empirical assessments. We also contribute to research in digital ecosystems by identifying a novel pool of resources required for platforms to create economically profitable activities. Through our examination, we also provide a framework to identify at what specific time new economic systems emerge and enable commercially viable new ventures. © 2026 selection and editorial matter, Victoria Slettli and Sabine Baumann.
Table of Contents
Description
Click on the DOI link to access this article at the publishers website (may not be free).
Publisher
Taylor and Francis
Journal
Value Creation in Digital Platforms and Business Ecosystems: Networks, Relationships and the Platform Markets