What is the Collaborative Economy and why should it matter to Cities?
The collaborative economy allows people and organizations to rent, lend and share what they need, rather than having to purchase or create new resources. Collaborative consumption increases access to resources, while simultaneously reducing consumption and the energy associated with manufacturing, transport and disposing of those very same types of resources.
With affordable access to tools people can make their homes energy efficient, improve their neighborhoods or start new businesses. Departments and organizations can turn idle or underutilized equipment into revenue. Communities and cities can increase resilience by enabling everyone to easily locate resources to prepare for, respond to and bounce forward after disaster.