Abstract
In the 21st century, the free movement of information became quite important with the increase of internet technology. The fact that people can exchange money or data with each other without the need for any intermediary has led to the development of a new economic area under the name of the sharing economy. One of the most important features of the sharing economy is that the parties of the economic transaction establish this relationship through a technological platform. Similarly, allowing peer-to-peer transactions and seeing them as a reliable and public platform has made blockchain technology the focus of attention as a digital business technology in various sectors. In this study, blockchain technology, which is considered as the future technology of the sharing economy, is explained within the framework of a health sector model that deals with the partnership between the sharing economy and blockchain technology.
TopLiterature Review
There are many studies on blockchain technology and the sharing economy. In the studies on the sharing economy, the initiatives that are carried out through online platforms such as Uber and Airbnb are generally examined. Following from hotel and transportation services, the sharing economy has begun to find areas of use in entertainment, finance, and retail (PwC, 2018:9).
The studies carried out within the scope of blockchain technology started with finance, and are further diversified on a sectoral basis. Even in public places blockchain technology finds use. In this study, in addition to the studies that address the relationship between blockchain technology, which is seen as the future technology of the sharing economy, and the sharing economy, the studies and evaluations that address the combination of these two concepts in the health sector are included. It can be said that the studies carried out in relation to health services are much more limited.
Some of the studies on the sharing economy, blockchain technology and the relationship between these two concepts with the health sector are shown in Table 1.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Peer-to-Peer Markets: It is a type of market that provides the transfer of goods, services and assets without the need for any intermediaries among individuals.
Smart Contract: It is a digital protocol. The process of a contract is automated by software and the process steps are performed automatically.
Bitcoin: It is a digital currency.
Sharing Economy: The sharing economy refers to a peer-to-peer sharing platform that enables transferring and sharing of goods/services among people and reuse of resources.
Blockchain Technology: Blockchain technology can be described as a digital structure or network, which enables data transfer among individuals by using digital platforms protected by passwords and has a decentralized structure.
Cost-Effective Management: It is a form of management ensuring the maximization of the benefits that can be obtained from the resources allocated to health and the reduction of costs.
Sharing Economy Platform: These are internet-based applications in which relationships based on sharing of economic assets among individuals are carried out.