Swinga - Model for a Socially Sustainable Sharing Economy
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | SWINGA BAZAAR EKONOMISK FÖRENING |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 300 000 |
| Project duration | May 2018 - January 2019 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Social innovation - development and testing |
| Call | Social innovation - step 1 |
Important results from the project
The sharing economy shows both great potential to be able to contribute to sustainable development and at the same time significant challenges. The overall goal of the project was to further develop Swinga, an app to make it easier and safer for neighbors to borrow things from each other, so that it creates social capital. The purpose was to contribute to a model for how the sharing economy can be more just and sustainable. This goal and purpose have been achieved. The app has been further developed and the test users think it is inclusive, promotes community, and is safe and easy to understand.
Expected long term effects
In addition to the app, Swinga´s communication and organization has also been made more inclusive. Overall, the project has begun to contribute to a model for digital platforms that does not increase discrimination or reify relationships. The direct effects of the test are limited, but soon Swinga will be able to contribute to strengthening social capital, integration and a sustainable sharing economy in general. This through increased trust-building contacts between people from different social groups, increased participation, and joint responsibility-taking for resources.
Approach and implementation
The project has been carried out with the help of partners, a reference group of ethnic associations, a lawyer, and consultants in the field of norm criticism and app development. The arrangement made it possible to recruit many foreign-born to the test. Representation based on gender was also good. Thanks to an additional partnership, the cost of organizational development could be significantly reduced. On the other hand, the cost of app development turned out to be higher. The sharp test was performed later than planned, but tests based on the prototype constituted a good complement.