Owning platforms – cooperatives in the digital economy

Summary

The article discusses the role of cooperatives in the digital platform economy to address the drawbacks of commercial platforms like Amazon and Uber. Cooperatives, as democratic platforms, empower their members and offer an alternative regulatory approach, strengthening economic autonomy and requiring less prohibitive regulation. Key features include member ownership, democratic voting, long-term member support, and regulatory oversight for fairness. Despite their potential, cooperatives face challenges in competitive markets and require improved regulatory support to thrive. Supporting cooperatives could offer a fair and innovative market alternative, contributing to a more equitable digital economy.