UB School of Economics researchers embark on EU-funded project on sharing economy and inequalities across Europe

The University of Barcelona is a partner in the Jean Monnet Network SHINE, which has recently been awarded a total of €299,876 from the European Union to support the project Sharing Economy and Inequalities across Europe. With a total budget of nearly €400,000, the network will develop this EU-funded project at least well into 2022. The project will consist of university research, training and a joint work programme with institutions and other economic agents, including public administrations from different countries and technology and innovation hubs.

The partnership is led by University of Valencia and includes the following partners: University of Barcelona, KU Leuven, University of Bologna and University of Palermo. The Observatory on Analysis and Evaluation of Public Policies (OAP) is the partner at the University of Barcelona and the proposal is led by the UB School of Economics researcher Germà Bel.

The partner universities have a strong reputation in the study of the social and economic consequences of different models of market regulation, the developments brought by the new digital intermediation and sharing economy, as well as the public policies designed to fight problems that might have arisen, with special focus on the possible inequalities that these models might accentuate.

This project integrates the analytical study of the consequences of the different regulatory models, with special attention to the experiences that have proved most effective in the protection of the social groups or parties in a situation of weakness, with the formulation of regulatory proposals for these new markets that adequately combine the greatest efficiency and freedom possible for providers with the protection of citizens and social justice.

The network will hold scientific congresses and academic events aimed at studying and discussing the best regulation for specific markets such as transport or collaborative accommodation, as well as analysing the possible problems of algorithmic discrimination or biases introduced by digital intermediation mechanisms and its impact on equity.

The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) received 1290 eligible applications for the Jean Monnet Activities, out of which 251 have been selected for funding for these actions, including the SHINE project. The Jean Monnet Networks foster the creation and development of consortia of international players in the area of European Union studies in order to gather information, exchange practices, build knowledge and promote the European integration process across the world.

---