Cities and Consumption: Urban Sustainability and the Sharing Economy

Overview

How can we govern consumption and the sharing economy in our cities? This course explores cities, consumption and the sharing economy in Europe and around the world. We connect together the key themes of the sharing economy, cities, governance, consumption and urban sustainability. We explore how the sharing economy can contribute to increasing social, environmental and economic sustainability. And we argue that it is imperative that the sharing economy is shaped and designed to advance urban sustainability. This course was launched in May 2020, and it was updated in September 2021 with new podcasts, films and publications. This course is produced by Lund University in cooperation with partners from Sharing Cities Sweden – a national program for the sharing economy in cities with a focus on governance and sustainability. It features researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs from a range organisations.

Syllabus

Week 1 – Sharing Cities: Governing and Regulating

By studying this module you can gain an increased knowledge and a deeper understanding of the sharing economy in cities. The concept of sharing cities is presented and discussed in relation to governance and urban sustainability with examples from Europe and around the world.

Week 2 – Sharing Cities: Leading and Visioning

By studying this module you can gain an increased knowledge and a deeper understanding of self-governing (or leading by example) by municipalities to shape the sharing economy in cities. Examples and experiences of the sharing economy in Stockholm are presented. Critical thinking and a broader perspective is provided through a documentary film and podcast.

Week 3 – Sharing Cities: Providing and Evaluating

By studying this module you can gain an increased knowledge and a deeper understanding of providing by municipalities to shape the sharing economy in cities. Examples and experiences of the sharing economy in Umeå are presented. Critical thinking and a broader perspective is provided through a documentary film and podcast.

Week 4 – Sharing Cities: Enabling and Engaging

By studying this module you can gain an increased knowledge and a deeper understanding of enabling by municipalities to shape the sharing economy in cities. Examples and experiences of the sharing economy in Gothenburg are presented. Critical thinking and a broader perspective is provided through a documentary film and podcast.

Week 5 – Sharing Cities: Collaborating and Innovating

By studying this module you can gain an increased knowledge and a deeper understanding of collaborating by municipalities to shape the sharing economy in cities. Examples and experiences of the sharing economy in Malmö are presented. Critical thinking and a broader perspective is provided through a documentary film and podcast.