News – New York City Puts New Regulations on Housesharing
Expanding the Market
Nick Zaiac, the Commercial Freedom Fellow at the R Street Institute, says the sharing economy is a net benefit for everyone.
“Peer-to-peer platforms increase both the size and scope of the market,” Zaiac said. “They allow consumers to access a bigger pool of options for whatever is being sold, often with lower prices. This opens access to new customers, especially the lower middle class. Typically, rules that add licensing, inspection, and other barriers will make the market less accessible to those with modest incomes and a need for extra cash. These people stand to benefit most from online platforms like Airbnb.”
