Le modèle du coopérativisme de plateforme pourrait-il limiter les risques sociaux de l'économie collaborative

Abstract

One of the current challenges in our society is to find alternatives to offer a more protective and more peaceful working environment to the workers of the collaborative economy, in particular, to avoid them being constantly submitted to the pressure of their too flexible and unstable work. Some people such as T. Scholz, N. Schneider or still M. Bauwens have recognized the necessity of slowing down this collaborative economy and have elaborated a new alternative model, called 'platform cooperativism'. To study this alternative more in-depth, this research begins by defining the collaborative economy. In the absence of a universal definition, a definition in the broad sense, then in the strict sense is established to identify the main characteristics of this economy in a general way. The professional situation of the workers of this new economy is also studied in a legal aspect as for their social status and then in an economic aspect to identify the balance of power these companies of monopolistic nature maintain with the workers. Afterward, the cooperative model and its evolution through centuries are then analyzed. A description of the values, principles and the cooperative identity in this section were necessary to highlight further how this model could contribute to meet the challenge previously displayed. After this theoretical description, a qualitative study was led to consider the platform cooperativism under different aspects. Interviews were realized to study the feasibility of a potential match between the collaborative model and the cooperative one. Thanks to the collected answers, we realized that the platform cooperativism is a real opportunity to be exploited. However, because of the very beginning of its development, it is important to consider the uncertainty of its profitability and of its capacity to build up itself a competitive advantage which will allow it to be viable in the long term. This study will give to future entrepreneurs a first overview of the advantages of which they can benefit, but it will also highlight the obstacles they will have to overcome if they choose to set up their project under the shape of a cooperative platform.