[FrozenTuna]

I love AirBnB on paper, but in practice, its just too ripe with issues. So many similarities to Uber too. Socialize the costs, privatize the revenue. Use litigation to fight to keep the loopholes open. At least Uber isn't screwing with the housing market, that I know of.

[AJ007]

I think ultimately it is up to regulators to determine how to deal with these companies / platforms. They are legal entities and can be targeted, unlike open source software projects and protocols.

I can add a lot of opinions as to if these companies are a net positive or negative, but overall the regulators have a disproportionate amount of firepower compared to these companies. Airbnb first time offense for Miami Beach is $20,000 and doubles after that. All of these companies know that, and it is why they so aggressively fight the regulatory side.

Uber certainly got a lot of tailwinds due to regulatory capture backlash from local cab companies. Airbnb, to some extent because of dislike or outright unavailability of hotels. Some markets were much healthier and well regulated than others pre-Uber/ Airbnb. Some hotel/transport markets were a disaster.

In summary, if the regulatory frameworks are crafted in the right way, for whatever the given market is, everyone is better off save for previously well entrenched business. I’m not sure there is actually enough talent, globally, to accomplish that on a individual local market level.

[kasperni]

I think we all had high hopes for the "Sharing Economy". But instead we ended up with a "Sharing But Not Caring Economy". Giant corporations trying to create a monopoly with any means possible.

[jayventura]

"Socialize the costs, privatize the revenue."

Sounds like most industries actually, where externalities are passed on to society. E.g. resource extraction.