The Cambridge Handbook on the Law of the Sharing Economy

Abstract

This is a draft of the table of contents and introduction of the forthcoming Cambridge Handbook on the Law of the Sharing Economy (2018). The handbook grapples conceptually and practically with what the sharing economy – which includes entities ranging from large for- profit firms like Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, TaskRabbit, and Upwork to smaller, nonprofit collaborative initiatives – means for law, and how law, in turn, is shaping critical aspects of the sharing economy. Featuring a diverse set of contributors from multiple academic disciplines and countries, the book compiles the most important, up- to- date research on the regulation of the sharing economy. The first part surveys the nature of the sharing economy, explores the central challenge of balancing innovation and regulatory concerns, and examines the institutions confronting these regulatory challenges. The second part turns to a series of specific regulatory domains, including labor and employment law, consumer protection, tax, and civil rights. This groundbreaking work should be read by anyone interested in the dynamic relationship between law and the sharing economy.