could online market places tackle poverty?
DESCRIPTION
This is a try at summarising the article by Wingham Rowan (of Slivers of Time) for the purpose of asking the question - and triggering a discussion - at the #ScoGovCamp on 31 July 2010TRANSCRIPT
Could online market places tackle poverty?
With thanks to Wingham Rowan(Slivers of Time)
http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/online-marketplaces-poverty
Market places
What’s involved in being involved?
• Transactions– Friction (not)– Disintermediation(!)
• Reviews & feedback • Reputation• Trust
– Security (financial & other)– indemnity
• Identity– registration
Asset types
Small personal trades• Formal work
– Particularly for sporadic, irregular hours
• Local services– Trade direct rather than through agencies?
• Hire of Goods– For when you’re not using your hoover yourself
• Borrowing cash– Like existing micro-finance operations
UK Scale
• Est. £100m/day untraded resources
• 20% of adults deemed economically inactive (8.5m?!)
What might gov’t do?
not fund, design, build or operate such marketplaces
be a catalystThis cd also incl channeling purchasing via e-
marketsprovide a regulatory framework & access
to validation proceduresdivert public spending to local
communities through the new markets,
Being a catalyst
e.g. The1993 National Lottery Act defined:• parameters of the intended service;• For operators
– the benefits and protections government would bestow
– Corresponding obligations
• duration of the concession• the process by which a winning
consortium of operators would be decided.
5 core principles
• Gov’t sponsorship not management
• Transparent process of set-up and operation
• Focus on small transactions
• Don’t micro-manage
• Apply monopolies regulations
How would it work?
• Making a transaction – see next slide
• Tracking the market – next slide but one
transaction
Tracking a market
Advanced functions
• Complementary economy– Like LETS
• Resource gaps analysis– “is there a shortage of electricians in Perth?...”
• Enabling investment in sellers– Training scenario
• Interlocking markets– Stitching a package together from different
domains
Where might demand come from?
• Currently non-existent markets– E.g. time-specific renting stuff out
• Markets made more convenient– Regulated, stable, low-cost?
• Supporting markets– E.g. rental mkt creates demand for ‘holders’
• Corporates displaced– Disintermediation; grocer’s bicycle e.g.
Challenges
Include:• the world of work
– DWP• Rather ‘Black & white’ view of being in/out of work• Shades of grey?
– Casualised labour (remember what it was that ppl worked so hard to combat)
• Identity infrastructure• Digital access• First mover advantage
Some helpful contexts
• Grameen Bank & Glasgow Caley?
• Shifting the Balance of Care– Personalised care pilots
– Timebanks
• SiteonMobile?– Technical solution for lack of web
access
Good things for Gov’t
• a new tool for tackling worklessness?
• more precise public services?
• a new model for skills?
• benefits efficiencies?