The Collaborative Economy in Poland and Europe: A Tool for Boosting Female Employment?

The collaborative economy is a relatively new economic system approach based on peer-to-peer transactions. It includes the shared creation, production and consumption of goods and services accessible for all through online platforms and smartphone applications. It is a burgeoning business model that is experiencing increased interest in all European countries. The collaborative economy boomed simultaneously with the economic crisis and the rise of smartphone applications. The crisis lead to drastic social and economic changes such as job losses and rising unemployment among young people with the need for alternative sources of income, and the development of smartphone applications became an accessible way to make peer-to-peer transactions. Because of its similarities with freelance activities, the system offers flexibility and in-dependence and is chosen by people who wish to exit the traditional corporate world to have more flexible working hours, to have additional income, or who wish to start an independent activity. Thus, the collaborative economy might find a particular interest among women. With the growth of female participation in the labour market in Europe over the past two decades, finding appropriate work-life balance for women has emerged as a challenge. Women still experience issues in the workplace such as stereotypes or sexism, as well as a pay differential. These obstacles in the standard economy have led many women to be attracted to the freedom of having their own business. Even though women may still face obstacles when becoming an entrepreneur, the collaborative economy, with relatively lower administrative burdens, easier access, and especially its freedom, gives women a greater opportunity to easily create their own business. This reality is especially attractive in Poland. Statistics show that Poland already has an above-average number of women who are interested in self-employment, a fact that implies great potential for the development of the participation of women in the collaborative economy. Given the situation of formal female employment in Poland, which is quite low by European standards, this paper assesses the opportunities offered by the collaborative economy in increasing the female labour participation rate amongst Polish women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]