ABSTRACT. This article reviews recent literature (especially Davidson and Infranca, 2016) concerning the way the technology of online labor platforms can influence the underlying forces of urban settings. Using data from Pew Research Center, ING, Ipsos/Allianz, and MarketingCharts.com, I performed analyses and made estimates regarding ride-hailing use among urban residents and rural dwellers, participation in the EU sharing economy in the next 12 months, sharing economy vs. traditional travel & booking services, whether frequent ride-hailing users are likely to own or drive a car, and whether U.S. individuals who use ride-hailing services tend to view them as software platforms that connect independent drivers with people seeking a ride. Empirical and secondary data are employed to support the claim that the strength of the sharing economy to make possible the entry of cutting-edge undertakings and foster innovation may correspondingly affect urban economies.

Keywords: sharing economy; local level; online labor platform; urban environment

How to cite: Meilă, Alexandra Dana (2018). “Regulating the Sharing Economy at the Local Level: How the Technology of Online Labor Platforms Can Shape the Dynamics of Urban Environments,” Geopolitics, History, and International Relations 10(1): 181–187.

Received 25 January 2018 • Received in revised form 22 March 2018
Accepted 24 March 2018 • Available online 29 March 2018

doi:10.22381/GHIR101201810