Airbnb & Inequality: How Short-Term Rentals Are Shaping Communities with Dr. Mehmet Cansoy

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Katie Dudley, tourism researcher and educator, as she interviews Dr. Mehmet Cansoy, assistant professor of sociology, about the intersection of technological change, inequality, and the platform economy. In this episode, we dive deep into the impact of Airbnb on communities, exploring how short-term rentals affect economic activity, social patterns, and neighborhood dynamics. Dr. Cansoy's research reveals that middle-income and predominantly white neighborhoods often benefit from Airbnb, while marginalized communities do not see the same gains. 

We also examine the commercialization of Airbnb and its differences from other platform industries like rideshare or food delivery. From profitability to regulation, we discuss how this platform has evolved from an idealistic sharing economy model to a capital-driven business. You'll hear about the challenges in obtaining data on Airbnb, using tools like AirDNA, and the influence of local regulations on short-term rentals.

This episode tackles the broader consequences of unchecked growth in the short-term rental market, such as rising rents, illegal rentals, and the Disneyfication of urban spaces. Tune in to learn why structural changes and community organizing are essential for addressing these challenges.

Takeaways

• The relationship between technological change and inequality in the platform economy is a key focus of Dr. Cansoy's research.
• Middle-income and predominantly white neighborhoods tend to benefit more from Airbnb, while marginalized areas do not.
• Airbnb has evolved from an idealistic sharing platform to a commercial business driven by capital.
• The profitability of Airbnb sets it apart from other platform-based industries like rideshare or food delivery apps. Understanding the transformation and change in platforms like
• Airbnb is crucial for analyzing their impact.
• Platforms are malleable and adaptable, shaped by regulations and market conditions.
• Obtaining data on platforms like Airbnb can be challenging, and commercial data scrapers like AirDNA can be useful.
• A significant portion of the profits on Airbnb goes to very frequently rented properties.
• While some regulations have had limited success, outright bans and stricter regulations have shown more effectiveness. Short-term rentals, particularly through platforms like
• Airbnb, pose challenges and have significant impacts on cities and communities.
• The commercialization of short-term rentals and the lack of data sharing by Airbnb make it difficult for cities to regulate the industry effectively.
• Residents often feel anger and confusion, and there is a lack of clarity on who to hold accountable for the negative consequences of short-term rentals.
• Potential future consequences include dramatic rent increases, the growth of illegal rentals in unregulated markets, and the loss of community and local character in cities.
• Addressing the issues surrounding short-term rentals requires structural changes and local organizing, as individual actions alone may not be sufficient.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
01:11 Defining Technological Change and Inequality
02:15 Research on Airbnb and Neighborhoods
04:41 The Impact of Airbnb on Marginalized Communities
06:37 The Commercialization of Airbnb
17:10 How Airbnb Differs from Other Platform-Based Industries
23:24 The Idealistic Discourse of Airbnb
26:21 The Evolving Nature of Airbnb
26:45 Understanding Transformation and Change in Platforms
27:33 The Malleability and Adaptability of Platforms
29:01 Challenges of Obtaining Data on Airbnb
30:55 Profits on Airbnb: The Dominance of Very Frequently Rented Properties
46:31 The Impact of Regulations on Airbnb: Limited Success and Effectiveness
53:43 The Challenges and Impacts of Short-Term Rentals
55:45 The Commercialization and Unchecked Growth of Airbnb
56:14 The Difficulty of Regulating Short-Term Rentals
01:06:19 Future Consequences: Rent Increases and Disneyfication
01:07:11 The Need for Structural Changes and Local Organizing