Title: Sharing economy: a bibliometric analysis of the state of research

Authors: Matthias Filser; Victor Tiberius; Sascha Kraus; Jonathan Spitzer; Norbert Kailer; Ricarda B. Bouncken

Addresses: ZHAW Zürich University of Applied Sciences, School of Management and Law, Gertrudstrasse 15, CH-8401, Winterthur, Switzerland; LUT University, School of Business and Management, Yliopistonkatu 34, 53850, Lappeenranta, Finland ' University of Potsdam, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, August-Bebel-Strasse 89, D-14469, Potsdam, Germany ' Durham University, Durham University Business School, Mill Hill Lane, Durham, DH1 3LB, UK ' Johannes Kepler University Linz, Institute of Entrepreneurship and Organisation Development, Altenberger Strasse 69, A-4040 Linz, Austria ' Johannes Kepler University Linz, Institute of Entrepreneurship and Organisation Development, Altenberger Strasse 69, A-4040 Linz, Austria ' University of Bayreuth, Chair of Strategic Management and Organziation, Prieserstr. 2, D-95444 Bayreuth, Germany

Abstract: The sharing economy has received increased attention in entrepreneurship research, resulting in a complex research landscape that is hard to overlook. Using a bibliometric analysis, we aim to further synthesise the field by: 1) summarising the most important definitions given by extant literature to capture the common understanding of the sharing economy; 2) identifying three thematic clusters based on the top 20 most cited publications; 3) conducting a citation analysis to show interdependencies between all authors; and 4) identifying the research methods used in the SE publications. Our results show: 1) many definitions with different emphases; 2) conceptualisation, collaborative consumption/ownership and the disruptive character of the sharing economy as three dominant research clusters; 3) a fairly even citation practice allowing for unbiased future research; and 4) that conceptual publications and quantitative as well as qualitative studies are fairly evenly published.

Keywords: bibliometrics; business models; citation analysis; collaborative consumption; disruption; literature review; regulations; sharing economy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEV.2020.112234

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2020 Vol.12 No.6, pp.665 - 687

Received: 29 May 2019
Accepted: 05 Mar 2020
Published online: 05 Jan 2021 *

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