Digital platforms for sharing, swapping and other ways of collaborative consumption are widely associated with economic and social gains. However, existing platforms that centrally own and provide the necessary infrastructure (data, software and service solutions) are perceived increasingly critical in public debate. Due to their central position, these platforms could skim off rents from transactions, with the result that the anticipated positive economic distribution effects would only occur to a limited extent. 

As an antithesis, different decentral models combining alternative organizational forms and new technologies are discussed and tested. These alternative models follow a more decentralized approach which is pursued at different levels. At the technological level, decentralized concepts for data storage and transaction are developed (e.g. blockchain); at the organizational level, cooperatives are founded; at the individual level, founders as well as providers and consumers of products and services are more strongly motivated by social and ecological goals.

Up until now, there is no systematical research on whether these negative and positive effects of centralized and decentralized platform models actually exist. The aim is to analyze social and economic effects of different organizational forms in the platform economy.