The Parable of the Sharing Economy: A Critical Literature Review

Through a systematic and critical literature review based on 67 scientific articles published between 2004 and 2019, the article aims to explore the evolution of the concept of Sharing Economy (SE). The first part of the article discusses the definitions given by authors from different disciplines and explores the competitive factors that have fostered its success over the years. The second part proposes a critical reading of the evolution of the SE concept in relation to the topic of sustainability that emerges strongly in literature albeit with many contradictions. Conclusions develop reflections on further research devoted to understanding the most controversial under-researched topics.