Does Sharing Mean Caring? Regulating Innovation in the Sharing Economy

Sharing economy practices have become increasingly popular in recent years.From swapping systems to network transportation to private kitchens, sharing with strangers appears to be the new urban trend.Although Uber, Airbnb, and other online platforms have democratized access to a number of services and facilities, concerns have been raised as to public safety, health, and limited liability of these sharing economy practices.In addition, these innovative activities have been contested by professionals offering similar services who claim that the sharing economy is opening the door to unfair competition.Regulators are at a crossroads: on the one hand, innovation in the sharing economy should not be stifled by excessive and outdated regulation; on the other hand, there is a real need to protect the users of these services from fraud, liability, and unskilled service providers.This dilemma is far more complex than it seems, since regulators are confronted here with an array of challenging questions.First, can these sharing economy practices be qualified as "innovations" worth protecting and encouraging?Second, should the regulation of these practices serve the same goals as the existing rules for equivalent commercial services?Third, how can regulation keep