Exploratory study of consumer issues in online peer-to-peer platform markets: final report
Authors
Hausemer, PierreRzepecka, Julia
Dragulin, Marius
Vitiello, Simone
Rabuel, Lison
Nunu, Madalina
Rodriguez Diaz, Adriana
Psaila, Emma
Fiorentini, Sara
Gysen, Sara
Meeusen, Tim
Quaschning, Simon
Dunne, Allison
Grinevich, Vadim

Huber, Franz
Baines, Linda
Issue Date
2017-05
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study explores consumer issues in five online peer to peer platform markets: (Re)sale of Goods; Sharing/renting of goods, Sharing/renting accommodation; Sharing/hiring rides; and Odd jobs. The study estimates that 191m citizens across the EU-28 spend EUR 27.9 billion per year on online P2P platforms. Of this total, an estimated EUR 10.61 billion consists of platform revenues and revenues of third parties. The study defines three main peer-to-peer platform business models: (a) hosting of listings where platforms do not get involved in the peer to peer transaction (b) active management of transactions where platforms foster trust among peers to facilitate a larger number of transactions and (c) platform governed peer transactions where the platform sets one or more contractual terms for the peer-to-peer transaction and exercises control over the performance of the transaction. The study identifies five key consumer issues that emerge from this new kind of economy: (1) transparency and clarity regarding the nature of transactions concluded through online P2P platforms, applicable consumer rights and obligations, the applicable legal framework and its enforcement; (2) reliability of peer review and rating systems and accuracy of identity information provided on the platform; (3) discrepancy between exclusion of platform responsibility and liability for the performance of online P2P transactions and platform practices; (4) access to redress for peer consumers and peer providers; and (5) data use and data protection issues.Citation
Hausemer, P., Rzepecka, J., Dragulin, M., Vitiello, S., Rabuel, L., Nunu, M., Rodriguez Diaz, A., Psaila, E., Fiorentini, S., Gysen, S., Meeusen, T., Quaschning, S., Dunne, A., Grinevich, V., Huber, F. and Baines, L. (2017) Exploratory Study of consumer issues in peer-to-peer platform markets. Brussels: European Commission. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/411699/1/FinalreportMay2017pdf_2_.pdfPublisher
European CommissionDOI
10.2838/779064Additional Links
https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/477f147f-b72e-11e9-9d01-01aa75ed71a1/language-enType
Research reportLanguage
enDescription
This is a report published by the European Commission. For re-use please see the publisher's terms and conditions.ISBN
9789279691836Sponsors
This report was produced under the EU Consumer Programme (2014-2020) in the frame of a service contract with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) acting under the mandate from the European Commission.ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.2838/779064