Designed primarily to permit the instructors to deal with a topic with which they are especially concerned, more focused than the subject matter of a regular lecture course. Does not count towards the requirements of the Sociology major, but may satisfy other campus requirements.

In recent years, the rise of the sharing economy has engendered entire clusters of digital platforms that have transformed the way we consume and partake in economic activities. Apps such as Airbnb and Uber have become so commonplace that it is hard to imagine traveling or getting around without them. However, as sharing economies grow, they become the very capitalistic corporations they once sought to deliver us from. We peel open the world of ‘sharing’ in this class by investigating its moral underpinnings and economic logic. Can Uber and Airbnb really consider themselves part of the ‘sharing’ economy when they facilitate commercial transactions? What exactly is ‘sharing,’ and how does it differ from concepts such as gifting or reciprocity? How does the sharing economy exacerbate social inequalities when it is designed to sidestep traditional work structures and hierarchies? Students will walk away from the class with a more critical and nuanced look at alternative consumption and emerging markets.

Repeat Rules