Platform Cooperativism: Challenging the Corporate Sharing Economy

Platform Cooperativism: Challenging the Corporate Sharing Economy examines the rise of digital platforms like Uber and Airbnb, and proposes an alternative model of platform ownership. Scholz introduces the concept of platform cooperativism as a way to restructure the digital economy through democratic ownership and governance. The book analyzes the current state of the platform economy, detailing how venture capital-backed corporations extract value from users and workers. It presents case studies of existing platform cooperatives and outlines practical steps for building worker-owned digital platforms across various sectors. The work provides a technical framework for developing cooperative alternatives, including legal considerations, ownership structures, and technological requirements. Scholz draws from historical cooperative movements while adapting their principles for the digital age. This analysis sits at the intersection of labor rights, digital technology, and economic democracy, offering a vision for a more equitable internet economy. The book serves as both critique and blueprint, connecting contemporary platform labor issues to broader questions about the future of work and ownership in the digital era.

This appears to be an academic paper/report rather than a traditional published book, so there are limited public reader reviews available. The paper has been cited extensively in academic work but does not have ratings on Goodreads or Amazon. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanation of how platform cooperatives could provide alternatives to corporate-owned sharing economy platforms - Specific examples and case studies of existing platform co-ops - Practical suggestions for starting new cooperative platforms Common criticisms: - Too brief/surface level treatment of complex implementation challenges - Limited discussion of financing models - Could include more concrete steps for transitioning existing platforms to cooperative ownership The paper is frequently referenced in academic discussions about digital labor and platform economics, particularly in critical analyses of companies like Uber and Airbnb. While highly cited in scholarly work, it has not received many public reader reviews due to its academic nature. No star ratings or review metrics are available on major book platforms.

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🔹 While traditional "sharing economy" companies like Uber and Airbnb are valued in the billions, they typically keep 20-30% of each transaction, money that could instead stay with workers in a platform cooperative model. 🔹 Author Trebor Scholz coined the term "platform cooperativism" in 2014, leading to a global movement with annual conferences and dozens of new worker-owned digital platforms. 🔹 Platform cooperatives aren't just theory - Up & Go, a house cleaning platform owned by its workers in New York City, ensures cleaners keep 95% of their earnings compared to 50-80% on corporate platforms. 🔹 The book was first published as a free PDF through the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, reflecting the author's commitment to making knowledge about democratic alternatives freely accessible. 🔹 Traditional cooperatives have a long history of success - Mondragon, a Spanish cooperative federation, employs over 80,000 workers and is one of Spain's largest corporations, showing the potential scale of cooperative business models.