# Professor Arun Sundararajan Discusses the Future of Capitalism with Rana Foroohar of Time Magazine

Alumni

September 13, 2016 ![](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/arun%20resized.jpg?itok=pWcNcq61) Nearly 300 alumni, students, and faculty gathered in Paulson Auditorium for a discussion between Arun Sundararajan, Professor of Information, Operations and Management Sciences, and Rana Foroohar, Business & Economics Editor at *Time Magazine*, about Professor Sundararajan’s new book, *The Sharing Economy: The End of Employment and the Rise of Crowd-Based Capitalism*. Ms. Foroohar is the author of *Makers and Takers: The Rise of Finance* and *The Fall of American Business* which she characterized as an outline of the problem for which The Sharing Economy offers a solution.

Dean Peter Henry offered introductory remarks to the buzzing audience before Professor Sundararajan and Ms. Foroohar delved into discussion about the economic and social implications of crowd-based digital platforms like Airbnb, Uber and BlaBlaCar, which have begun to activate dormant corners of commerce and community.

Professor Sundararajan and Ms. Foroohar agreed that the concept of a ‘gig economy’ is not new, but its recent digitization has allowed for economic and social paradigm shifts. “It’s about scaling that old gig economy and putting it into a form that can compete with industrial capitalism,” Professor Sundararajan explained. It was clear to the audience based on Professor Sundararajan’s comparisons of Airbnb to Marriott-Sherwood and of BlaBlaCar to Amtrak that these crowd-based platforms are providing viable alternatives to their traditional counterparts.

Ms. Foroohar and Prof. Sundararajan explored how regulation will unfold in a trust-based, continuously decentralizing economy. Prof. Sundararajan, who described himself as cautiously optimistic, said he looks to the potential for more equal distribution of wealth as a signal that the sharing economy will bring growth as opposed to slow down.

Engaged audience members asked a number of questions that provoked thoughtful conversation about the future of work. A cocktail reception and book signing gave alumni, students and faculty a chance to continue their conversations and reflections.

**Media Coverage for *The Sharing Economy***- **Charlie Rose**: [The Sharing Economy](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/professor-arun-sundararajan-joins-panel-and-discusses-his-new-book-sharing-economy)
- **WSJ**: [Sharing Economy Expert Says Social Safety Net Must Be Revamped](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/depth-interview-professor-arun-sundararajan-discusses-future-employment-his-book-sharing-economy)
- **Washington Post**: [What happens when we all become our own bosses](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/professor-arun-sundararajan-discusses-future-employment-and-benefits-his-book-sharing-economy)
- **Salon**: [Expanded trust made the sharing economy: "It creates the possibility of getting into a stranger's car"](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/professor-arun-sundararjan-discusses-increase-trust-digital-age-his-book-sharing-economy)
- **Quartz**: [The author of "The Sharing Economy" on Uber, China, and the future of work](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/professor-arun-sundararajan-interviewed-about-his-new-book-sharing-economy)

**Related Articles**- **Time**: [I Now Have Scientific Proof of How Awesome I Really Am](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/professor-arun-sundararajan-interviewed-about-uber-s-passenger-ratings)
- **Marketwatch**: [Buying a house as an Airbnb investment strategy is a risky move](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/professor-arun-sundararajan-weighs-airbnb-regulations)
- **WSJ**: [Want to Book an Airbnb Stay? Not So Fast](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/professor-arun-sundararajan-explains-impact-local-governments-banning-airbnb-rentals-tourism)
- **Time**: [Inside Airbnb's Plan to Build a Grassroots Political Movement](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/professor-arun-sundararajan-comments-airbnb-s-early-political-strategy)
- **Fortune**: [What Governments Can Learn From Airbnb And the Sharing Economy](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/faculty-research/what-governments-can-learn-airbnb-and-sharing-economy)