A1 Journal article (refereed)
Economic moralities in self-organised alternative economies : the Finnish cases of ridesharing and timebanking (2021)
Eskelinen, T., & Venäläinen, J. (2021). Economic moralities in self-organised alternative economies : the Finnish cases of ridesharing and timebanking. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 41(5/6), 657-672. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijssp-11-2019-0241
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Eskelinen, Teppo; Venäläinen, Juhana
Journal or series: International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
ISSN: 0144-333X
eISSN: 1758-6720
Publication year: 2021
Publication date: 30/06/2020
Volume: 41
Issue number: 5/6
Pages range: 657-672
Publisher: Emerald
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ijssp-11-2019-0241
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/72361
Abstract
the diverse economies approach is particularly useful in elaborating the self-understandings of such economic
communities. The analysis focuses on two types of alternative economies in Finland: ridesharing and
timebanking.
Design/methodology/approach – Through qualitative data, the paper looks into moments of negotiation
where economic moralities of self-organised alternative economies are explicitly debated. The main research
data consists of social media conversations, supplemented by a member survey for the participants of the
studied timebank. The data are analysed through theory-guided qualitative content analysis.
Findings – The analysis shows that the moments of negotiation within alternative economies should not be
understood as simple collisions of mutually exclusive ideas, but rather as complex processes of balancing
between overlapping and partly incommensurable economic moralities. While self-organised alternative
economies might appear as functionally uniform at the level of their everyday operations, they still provide
considerable leeway for different conceptions of the underlying normative commitments.
Originality/value – To date, there is little qualitative research on how the participants of self-organised
alternative economies reflect the purpose and ethics of these practices. This study contributes to the body of
diverse economies research by analysing novel case studies in the Finnish context. Through empirical analysis,
this paper also provides a theoretical framework of how the different economic moralities in self-organised
alternative economies can be mapped.
Keywords: sharing economy; common use; exchange economy; timebanks; morals; economic sociology
Free keywords: diverse economies; alternative economies; economic moralities; ridesharing; timebanks; Finland
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2021
JUFO rating: 1
