Does the Sharing Economy Improve People's Living Quality? Evidence from Blue-Collars’ Shared Rental Communities Transformed from Non-residential Properties in Shanghai

Abstract

The demand for rental apartments in Chinese megacities, especially among low-income blue-collar workers, is increasing. Reducing inequity within countries is an emphasis in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and both the government and developers are making efforts to find ways to improve the living quality of blue-collar workers in megacities. Sharing economy, as a way to “destock” non-residential properties, which are then transformed into rental communities, is regarded as a solution to solve the housing shortage and inequity problem. However, in the process of space transformation, residents’ living quality is not often guaranteed. Many “shared communities” are positioned as low-end and do not provide shared platforms beyond shared bathrooms and other basic service spaces. In order to minimize costs, community developers often neglect to ensure a comfortable living environment. This paper discusses typical cases in Shanghai that prioritize speed and quantity over the quality of sharing under the background of the sharing economy. The paper concludes with a discussion of two sides: sharing economy as a solution to provide basic respect and rights, and the contradiction between equity and inequity of living.