Sharing Economy, Informational Asymmetry, and Economic Consumer Regulation

Abstract

This article examines how the applications that operate based on the sharing economy reduce transaction costs among its users, and how this affects their need for regulation on consumer protection. This article discusses the contributions of Akerlof, Spence e Stiglitz to the formation of the information economy and the economic problems arising from information asymmetry. Then it discusses the role of the State on the resolution of informational asymmetries. Finally, it discusses the reputation mechanisms used by the sharing economy to reduce information asymmetry and what are its consequences for economic regulation, on consumer protection perspective.