The Sharing Economy: A disruptive and transformative change

AirBnB, Craigslist, Homeaway, Car and bike sharing programs--peer-to-peer is not just about illegal media files anymore--it's about everything. An interesting article in the Economist about how the sharing economy is transforming business. Considering that research shows our possessions are part of our self-concept, how will this change our relationships to our things? This is sure to be disruptive to traditional marketing, which tends to pedal ownership. One positive consequence is a reduction in redundant or wasteful consumption and perhaps more mindful, sustainable consumer behavior. On the other hand, these businesses raise serious concerns from a regulatory perspective and quality control will likely prove challenging.