This document summarizes a presentation on platform cooperativism. It discusses how existing platforms have disrupted industries like hospitality and transportation but often provide low pay and lack stability for workers. Platform cooperatives are proposed as an alternative model that is owned and governed by workers and users. Examples discussed include Fairmondo, an alternative to eBay, and Stocksy, a photographers cooperative. Japan's history with agricultural and consumer cooperatives is also noted. The presentation argues that platform cooperatives can help address issues like unequal treatment and implement democratic governance.

1. DEMOCRATIZING THE DIGITAL
ECONOMY
PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM:
EMI DO, MAg
PhD CANDIDATE
TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

2. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
▸ IoT, AI, algorithms can help solve anything
▸ Platforms:
★labour: get hired! (uber, taskrabbit)
★goods: find stuff! (amazon)
★asset: monetize your stuff! (airbnb)
★social: grow your network! (facebook)

3. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
DISRUPTING TECHNOLOGIES (EX: ASSET PLATFORM)
▸ Hilton:
▸ 93 years in operation1
▸ Valuation: >$23 billion USD1
▸ Staff: 169,0001
▸ Airbnb:
▸ 10 years in operation
▸ Valuation: >$30 billion USD
▸ Staff: 7,939
856,000 ROOMS
105 COUNTRIES2
4,000,000 LISTINGS
191 COUNTRIES3

4. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
A LITTLE TOO DISRUPTIVE?
▸ Airbnb:
▸ 10 years in operation
▸ Valuation: >$30 billion USD
▸ Staff: 7,939
4,000,000 LISTINGS
191 COUNTRIES3
•0.4% INCREASE IN RENT PER
10% INCREASE IN LISTINGS/
AREA4
•CIRCUMVENTING URBAN
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
•INCREASE IN TOURISTVS
RESIDENT POPULATION
•PROFITS FUNNELLED FROM
COMMUNITY TO SILICON
VALLEY

5. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
A LITTLE TOO DISRUPTIVE?
•38% SAY THAT THE
PLATFORM WORK IS THEIR
MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME
•$1-$5.50/HOUR
•18 MINUNPAID WORK/
HOUR WORKED5
•$2-$5/HR EXPENSES
•DRIVERS ARE ‘FIRED’
IF THEY DO NOT ACCEPT
80% OF RIDE REQUESTS
•15 SECONDREQ’D
RESPONSE TIME6
1/3 OF AMERICANS ARE
FREELANCERS7
[40% BY 2020
HEALTH CARE?
PENSION?
MINIMUM WAGE?
WORKER SAFETY?
STABILITY/SECURITY?
CONTROL?

6. WHAT IS BEING “SHARED” IN
THE SHARING ECONOMY?
NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM

7. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
WHAT IS BEING SHARED IN THE SHARING ECONOMY?
WHITE
BLACK
ASIAN
HISPANIC
AIRBNB:
•NON-BLACK HOSTS CAN CHARGE ~12%
MORE THAN BLACK HOSTS9
HOLDING LOCATION, RENTAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND QUALITY CONSTANT.
UBER
•LONGER WAIT TIMES FOR “BLACK
SOUNDING” NAMES10
•WOMEN EARN 7% LESS THAN MEN
TASK RABBIT
•WOMEN RECEIVE LESS REVIEWS THAN MEN
$1
0%
75%
150%
225%
300%
1948
1955
1962
1969
1976
1983
1990
1997
2004
2011hourly compensation
productivity
241.8%
115.4%
1948-1973:
96.7% vs
91.3%
1973-2016:
73.7% vs
12.3%
Economic Policy Institute, data from BLS8
WORKERS WHO DESCRIBE THE INCOME THEY
EARN FROM PLATFORMS AS ‘ESSENTIAL’ OR
‘IMPORTANT’ ARE MORE LIKELY TO COME
FROM:
•LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLD
•BE NON-WHITE
•NOT ATTENDED COLLEGE11

8. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
WHAT ABOUT JAPAN?
30%
NON REGULAR
WORKFORCE12
70%
PART
TIME
7%
TEMP
14%
CONTRACT
9%
OTHER
STAGNATING WAGES,
DECREASE
IN EARNINGS,
DESPITE LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
60% JOB OPPORTUNITIES
ARE FOR IRREGULAR
POSITIONS
IRREGULAR POSITIONS =
60% OF PAY OF FULL TIME
WORKERS
ANNUAL INCOME OF
PERMANENT STAFF VS.
NON PERMANENT STAFF:
¥4.87 MILLION
VS.
¥1.72 MILLION13

9. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
SIDEBAR:
I’VE GOT BAGGAGE
(BIAS ALERT?)

11. FARM: YUMMY YARDS
CO-OP: FARMCITY CO-OP
EARTH APPLE FARM24 AVENUE FARM
FARMERS ON 57TH
BAREFOOT FARMS
URBAN EDIBLESURBAN DIGS

12. HARVEST BOX
Details for 2014: Financials Overview

13. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
SIDEBAR:
DID YOU KNOW JAPAN IS ONE OF THE
MOST ‘CO-OPERATIVE’ COUNTRIES IN
THE WORLD?

14. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
JAPAN AGRICULTURE FEDERATION OF
CO-OPERATIVES
LARGEST AGRICULTURAL CO-OP
$40 BILLION USD IN 2016
9 MILLION MEMBERS
CONSUMER CO-OP UNION
621 AFFILIATED CO-OPS
$28 MILLION USD IN 2015
24.2 MILLION MEMBERS
=1/3 HOUSEHOLDS16
UNIVERSITY CO-OP
224 MEMBER CO-OPS
¥ 184.3 BILLION
1.5 MILLION MEMBERS15
http://jccu.coop/eng/aboutus/coopsjapan.php

15. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
CO-OP 101
▸ Co-operative Values
✴ self help
✴ self responsibility
✴ democracy
✴ equality
✴ equity
✴ solidarity
▸ 7 Co-operative Principles
1. voluntary and open membership
2. democratic member control
3. member economic participation
4. autonomy and independence
5. education, training and information
6. co-operation among co-operatives
7. concern for community

16. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS?
COMMON POOL RESOURCES
(ELINOR OSTROM, NOBEL LAUREATE)
•FISHERY IN ALANYA, TURKEY
✴CO-OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT
✴ALLOCATION OF FISHING SITES
•SHAMILAAT FORESTS, PAKISTAN
✴ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION
•WATER IN NISHIKAMBARA, JAPAN
✴IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT
•ALPINE PASTURE IN SWITZERLAND
✴COMMUNAL GRAZING14

17. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
PRISONER’S DILEMMA?
TIT FOR TAT
(CO-OPERATIVE GAME THEORY)
•CO-OPERATE UNLESS OTHER DEFECTS
•RETALIATE IF OTHER DEFECTS
•FORGIVE PAST ACTIONS
=OPTIMAL STRATEGY

18. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
FREE RIDER
Whenever one person can not be excluded from the benefits that
the others provide, each person is motivated not to contribute to the
joint effort but to free ride on the efforts of others.14
“I DON’T TRUST THAT OTHERS WON’T CHEAT”

19. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN OF COMMONS MANAGEMENT
▸ clearly defined boundaries
▸ monitoring
▸ graduated sanctions
▸ conflict resolution mechanisms
▸ collective choice arrangements
+ CO-OP PRINCIPLES

20. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
GOVERNANCE: THE CO-OPERATIVE DIFFERENCE
▸ Does OWNERSHIP = CONTROL ?
▸ Potentiality of using new technologies and AI for good!
✴ algorithms can be used to determine:
✤ expertise
✤ relevant issues, topics that will affect you
✴ engaging owners/users into collaborative circles
✴ blockchain technology for transparency/ accountability

21. : ALTERNATIVE TO “GOODS” PLATFORM
NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
25%
25% 25%
25%
CO-OP SHARES:
DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS
PROPORTIONALLY BASED
ON # OF CO-OP SHARES
THEY OWN
FAIR FOUNDING POINTS:
COMPENSATION SCHEME
FOR FOUNDERS; 200
POINTS FOR EVERY HOUR
OF UNPAID WORK
NPO DONATION:
USERS DECIDE ON
WHICH NPOS TO
SUPPORT
UPSCALING
FAIRMONDO:
GROWING
FAIRMONDO’S VISION
4/4 MODEL OF PROFIT DISTRIBUTION
UNCOMPROMISING TRANSPARENCY:
ALL EXPENDITURES OPEN TO MEMBERS
(OPENBANK PROJECT)
EMPLOYEE ASSEMBLY
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SUPERVISORY
BOARD
MANAGING
BOARD
WORKING
GROUPS
DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY TO
STAKEHOLDERS
https://www.fairmondo.de/

22. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
STOCKSY: A NEW WORKERS CO-OP
▸ Multistakeholder co-op
▸ executives
▸ staff (25)
▸ artists (1,000)
▸ Artists get 50-70% of sales (vs.
15-45% industry standard)
▸ 90% of profits distributed as
dividends to members: $200,000
▸ $4.3 million1 paid in royalties to
artists
1: Based on data from 2016
https://www.stocksy.com/

23. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
FAR FROM PERFECT, BUT LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!
▸ Skeptical? GOOD!
▸ not a one model fits all solution
▸ how can the model serve your function?
▸ what concerns need to be addressed in order for you to
become an adopter?
▸ how can you embed values of equality and
accountability into your life?

24. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM JAPAN (PCJ)
▸ Connects key stakeholders of the emerging platform economy
ecosystem to create synergies in the pursuit of increased shared value,
ownership, and governance.
▸ What we do:
▸ Advocate for the role of platform cooperativism
▸ Work with partners to develop a local research agenda for the
sector
▸ Share impactful stories of platform cooperativism’s potential
▸ Help platform cooperatives get started

25. READER?
PODCAST ADDICT?
SOCIAL MEDIA MAVEN?
SOCIAL.COOP INSTASERFS I, II, III
WANT MORE?
NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM

26. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION!
ALSO ON APRIL 21ST

27. NERD NITE: PLATFORM CO-OPERATIVISM
LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION!
▸ Platform Co-operativsm Japan:
▸ platformjpcoop.wordpress.com [ platformjp.coop
▸ facebook: /platformcoopjp
▸ loomio: Platform Cooperativism Japan
▸ Emi Do
▸ social.coop: /@emi
▸ emido.weebly.com
▸ instagram: /@do.emi

28. REFERENCES
▸ 1: https://www.forbes.com/companies/hilton/
▸ 2: http://www.hiltonworldwide.com/about/
▸ 3: https://press.atairbnb.com/fast-facts/
▸ 4: Lee, Dayne. "How Airbnb short-term rentals exacerbate Los Angeles's affordable housing crisis: Analysis and policy recommendations." Harv. L. &
Pol'y Rev. 10 (2016): 229.
▸ 5: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---travail/documents/publication/wcms_479693.pdf
▸ 6: Hall, Jonathan V., and Alan B. Krueger. "An analysis of the labor market for Uber’s driver-partners in the United States." ILR Review (2015):
0019793917717222.
▸ 7: Sara Horowitz, "Freelancers in the U.S. workforce," Monthly Labor Review, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2015, https://doi.org/10.21916/
mlr.2015.37.
▸ 8: https://www.epi.org/productivity-pay-gap/
▸ 9: https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/digital-discrimination-the-case-of-airbnb-com
▸ 10: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602832/is-the-gig-economy-rigged/
▸ 11: http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/11/17/gig-work-online-selling-and-home-sharing/
▸ 12: Labour Force Survey (Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) (http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/roudou/results/
annual/ft/index.htm) (accessed on 2018/03/07)
▸ 13: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20171127/p2a/00m/0na/016000c
▸ 14: Ostrom, Elinor. Governing the commons. Cambridge university press, 2015.
▸ 15: http://www.univcoop.or.jp/coop/report/report14-08.html

29. RESOURCES
▸ Fairmondo: https://www.fairmondo.de/
▸ https://www.shareable.net/blog/qa-with-felix-weth-of-fairmondo-
the-platform-co-op-thats-taking-on-ebay
▸ Stocksy: https://www.stocksy.com/
▸ Scholz, Trebor, and Nathan Schneider, eds. Ours to hack and to own:
The rise of platform cooperativism, a new vision for the future of work
and a fairer internet. OR books, 2017.
▸ Theory of Everything Podcast: https://toe.prx.org/
▸ Sharing Cities: https://www.shareable.net/sharing-cities