Exploring the Motivations of Suppliers in the Collaborative Economy: a Sustainability Approach

Abstract

In recent years, the collaborative economy has drawn a lot of academic attention. Most research has focused on the consumer side, whereas the evidence regarding individuals as providers is scarce. Based on the triple-p (planet, people, profit) framework of the sustainability approach, this paper empirically investigates the reasons that lead individuals to offer services in the collaborative economy. Using microdata from representative samples of national populations in the member states of the European Union, Heckman-type probit models have been estimated for the provision of transport and accommodation collaborative services. The results show that the decision to provide is largely shaped by individuals’ sociodemographic features. Social and environmental reasons are found to drive the decision to provide transport services. Meanwhile, economic reasons appear to be the key drivers behind the offering of accommodation services.