How inclusive is the sharing economy? And what is the implication for neighbourhood design?

The sharing economy is growing rapidly and in the meantime scepticism emerges questioning its alleged benefits with respect to inclusiveness, such as providing equal access, encouraging participation and building social connection. However, how inclusive the sharing economy is has yet to be adequately explicated. This paper examines the inclusiveness of the sharing economy using a conceptual framework of inclusive economy, highlighting potential risks and problems. It then proposes a model of a more inclusive sharing economy that comprises hybrid sharing platforms and integrates collaborative consumption and co-production in a local community. Following this, the model is translated into a neighbourhood prototype and then tested using a hypothetical urban design scheme for an ordinary neighbourhood in Singapore.