OCU takes part in the public consultation on collaborative economy by the CNMC

In recent times we have seen how new forms of consumption have taken root, growing ever stronger in areas such as transport and holiday rental and that have given rise to what is known as the collaborative economy. It is a new economic phenomenon that deserves to be paid attention for its notable economic and social impact and because it represents a major shift in traditional forms of consumption of certain goods and services.

It is in this context that the public consultation which the National Commission of Markets and Competition has just begun, notes that the collaborative economy is "the opportunity to have more information about products, have lower transaction costs and environmental effects, positive elements derived from creating an economy based more on use than on ownership”. However, at the same time, they admit that they have decided to open this consultation process because "there are many unknowns about how to adapt the existing regulation to the effects produced by these new business models".

OCU, as a consumer organisation attentive to changing consumption patterns and models of service delivery as well as its impact on the rights of consumers, has participated by sending in their responses to the CNMC questionnaire. We are convinced that faced with a phenomenon whose importance is increasingly evident, the voice of consumers must be present in deciding how it is regulated.