Richard Laughton

End of Ownership: Life in the Shared Economy

Alec Russell, Andrew Byrne, MB Christie, Richard Laughton, Colin Mayer, Joseph Puccini, Amir Farman

Hosted by the Weekend FT Editor, a panel of industry leaders including Uber's Andrew Byrne, EasyCar's Richard Lawton, and Professor Colin Mayer debates the shifting dynamics of the sharing economy, focusing on the tension between algorithmic flexibility and labor rights. The discussion examines critical challenges such as gig worker classification, the risks of global digital monopolies, and the urgent need for international tax reforms to address cross-border revenue leakage. Ultimately, the speakers advocate for a hybrid regulatory framework that balances innovation with social trust, moving beyond binary employment status to accommodate a future where autonomous vehicles and fractional asset usage redefine traditional ownership.