Throughout the world, a new set of marketplaces are shifting economic patterns by allowing people to buy goods and services directly from one another rather than from traditional businesses. Collectively known as the “sharing economy,” these platforms facilitate transactions between users by making them easier, more convenient, more affordable and more trustworthy. Through these innovations, these marketplaces are unleashing a significant amount of economic activity, changing the dynamics of the transportation, accommodation, services, retail, and financial sectors.