Sharing Economy: The Transition To The Age Of Renting

The sharing economy is changing how you live and how business is done and with this shift you are in a new age. One that is often referred to as "the age of renting". It's a title that is inherently a good thing, but it also provides a good example of what's wrong with the current economic system. Despite the irrefutable need for this new age, there are some problems where logic and reason should prevail. The renting age is one of them.

In the past, people were saving up hard and sometimes they had to give up something in order to buy a house and avoid being forced to share rent money with someone else. In the future, renting might be the norm, but it's happening slowly. Let's not talk about only properties. I can already see things like scooters, bikes and cars for rent. I even got an email today, saying rent your new phone for a certain amount of money. What about music and movies? They are already available for rent. What's next clothing?

Let's cut to the chase. There's going to come a day when your home, land and physical belongings will no longer be considered valuable to you. Here's a look at what the future might look like, a blend of the tangible and intangible.

Would Renting Everything Even Work?

Imagine a world where everything is shared. Music, songs, memories, skills, tools, and anything else you can think of is owned by no one.

Sounds good, right? Of course, it's not that simple. For one, it's not at all what most people would consider a "good idea". But it is an idea and that deserves a chance. Everyone has the right to propose an idea. The only thing required to make an idea worth implementing is the willpower to do so.

The second problem is that sharing everything will not work. This is because there are going to be things that are not shareable. Your thoughts, your creativity, your dreams... these are things that no one else should have access to. They are meant to be enjoyed by you alone. You can't allow them to be shared.

It's going to take a lot more, than just willpower to make this work. It's going to take a lot of discussions about philosophy and ideals. It's going to take... well, whatever it takes. The only thing you know for certain is that it's going to take a lot of convincing.

The Sharing Economy

The sharing economy may be the first practical application of the concept of "the commons".

The concept of the commons is a simple one. The idea is that everyone, who is part of a community should share the benefits, that come from that community. Those who do their part should be rewarded and recognized for their effort. Those who do not should be left alone.

Right now, our economy is set up to benefit the few at the expense of the many. Everything that is produced is owned by someone else. You work hard, earn your money and then pay a large share of it to someone else.

"The commons" is a way of thinking about that. It's a way of thinking about distributing the rewards of your hard work equally and fairly.

"The Commons" also recognizes, that there are some things that shouldn't be for sale. Some things should not be used as trophies, toys, or status symbols. These things are meant to be used for their use and then discarded when their time is over.

"The Commons" says, that these things should be shared. They should be used, enjoyed and then discarded. You don't own them and you can't take them with you when you die.

The commons is a concept, that is being applied to all kinds of things. Travel, for example. Instead of owning a car, you could rent one from a company. They would own the car, but you would be able to use it. You would take a much smaller hit to your wallet, and you would be contributing to the well being of the community.

In the future, this could become the norm. You would no longer own a car, but you would rent one when you needed one. But the sharing economy also has a dark side. There are going to be casualties. At the moment, you have a choice of how you can spend your money. You can spend it on items that will last you. Or you can spend it on a one time use item.

Think about that for a moment. You're given the choice to buy something that will soon lose its value, or something that will lose its value gradually. That's just the first problem. The second problem is that you have no place to put your stuff.

Most of the time, once your things are no longer useful, you throw them away. But guess what? That stuff is needed in a constant stream of production. You might want to think about how you're going to dispose of all that stuff.

Value Of Possessions Is Eroding

The value of everything you have is diminishing. The items in your house are becoming increasingly outdated. You're realizing that you may as well just give away the things you don't need anymore, because even if you did sell them, you would only get a fraction of their worth.

The dollar is pretty useless. Since the government went off the gold standard, it doesn't actually have anything backing it. It's just another piece of paper. Of course, this is all due to inflation. Soon enough, the cost of living is going to be so high, that you'll need to find a new job, maybe a better paying one. The future is definitely looking less desirable.

Renters Are In Control

The big change in the future is that there is no longer a "need" for most things. Everything is going to be "shared". Renters are going to be in control. Owners will be looked down upon. That means no more private property. No more real estate. Just the idea of having a place to call your own is going to soon be a thing of the past.

As a renter, you have a lot more freedom. You're not tied to the property. If the owner or manager causes you problems, you can just move on. You don't have to worry about mortgages, rent, or finding another job. You just move on and start all of that again somewhere else.

Everyone will be looking for a place to call their own. But without private property, will people even bother to build? Will people even own houses? You have to wonder what the big picture is for humanity. Will we become a "gift" economy, where people just give away their stuff, so that it can be used by those who want it?

All Assets Are Becoming Concentrated In The Hands Of A Few

The sharing economy is not a level playing field. The rich are getting richer, while the poor are left more and more behind with each passing day. All the assets of society are being concentrated in the hands of a few. You can blame the system or you can take part in it. You can participate in the sharing economy and benefit from it, or you can decide that it isn't worth it and find an exit.

Sharing is not a merit based system. You are more or less stuck with the status quo. There are going to be casualties of the new system. People are going to be made worse off. You need to make your own decisions, and live with the results.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree with this system? Would it really be better to rent things instead of owning them?

Thank you for reading.