Authors

• Statistics Finland

Keywords

consumer behaviour, cooperation, crowdfunding, recycling, sustainability

Abstract

The survey charted Finnish experiences of sharing economy and the use of related services. Sharing economy refers to an activity where people give, sell, loan, borrow or rent things or services to each other instead of having to buy everything new or own it themselves. Respondents could respond to the survey in Finnish, Swedish or English. In addition to Statistics Finland, the study was funded by the Centre for Consumer Society Research, Consumers' Union of Finland, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, City of Helsinki, and Finnish Tax Administration.

The survey examined experiences of both more traditional and newer services related to sharing economy. Traditional services refer to, for example, flea markets, auctions, neighbourly help and car pooling. Newer services refer to several services organised through web platforms, such as short-term renting of a car or dwelling or borrowing money outside of traditional banks. Questions focused on, for instance, buying and selling used items and borrowing items from others. Additionally, the respondents were asked about helping others, buying surplus food, and the amount of cryptocurrency owned by the household.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age (categorised), level of education, household composition, type of neighbourhood of the respondent's municipality of residence, income, and the economic activity and occupational status of the respondent and their partner/spouse.