The 'sharing economy': The next big business trend

People are using the internet to share all kinds of goods, from cars and apartments to kids' toys and tools. And traditional businesses are taking notice

Bike-sharing programs are taking off across the country, just one example of how our economy is shifting to one built around peer-to-peer marketplaces.
(Image credit: CC BY: nycstreets)

The biggest trend in the economy right now isn't tech stocks or oil futures: It's the sharing economy. Otherwise known as collaborative consumption or peer-to-peer marketplaces, the sharing economy is all about getting maximal use out of a product or asset, whether it's renting out your apartment for a few days while you're away or leasing a power tool gathering dust in your garage. With the rise of social networking, the sharing economy is quickly spreading to other economic areas, including finance and childcare. And more than one person says the trend is so seismic that it could be the next Industrial Revolution. Here, a guide to the phenomenon:

How does the sharing economy work?

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