IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/rsocec/v75y2017i4p417-433.html

The social economy of coworking spaces: a focal point model of coordination

Author

Listed:
  • Julian Waters-Lynch
  • Jason Potts

Abstract

Coworking spaces are a rapid growing feature of modern cities, and increasingly popular with freelancers, knowledge workers, start-up communities, and others engaged in non-standard creative urban work. Drawing on ethnographic data gathered in a large case study of coworking spaces in Australia, we develop an economic model of an important aspect of coworking spaces in which a coworking space is a Schelling point. This argues that the main margin of value a coworking space provides is not price competition with serviced offices, or a more pleasant environment than working at home, but as a focal (Schelling) point for finding people, ideas and other resources when you lack the information necessary for coordination. Drawing on ethnographic research, we test some specific predictions the model makes about the organizational and institutional form of successful coworking spaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Julian Waters-Lynch & Jason Potts, 2017. "The social economy of coworking spaces: a focal point model of coordination," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 75(4), pages 417-433, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsocec:v:75:y:2017:i:4:p:417-433
    DOI: 10.1080/00346764.2016.1269938
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/00346764.2016.1269938
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/00346764.2016.1269938?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wennekers, Sander & van Stel, André & Carree, Martin & Thurik, Roy, 2010. "The Relationship between Entrepreneurship and Economic Development: Is It U-Shaped?," Foundations and Trends(R) in Entrepreneurship, now publishers, vol. 6(3), pages 167-237, July.
    2. Michael Bacharach, 2006. "The Hi-Lo Paradox, from Beyond Individual Choice: Teams and Frames in Game Theory," Introductory Chapters, in: Natalie Gold & Robert Sugden (ed.),Beyond Individual Choice: Teams and Frames in Game Theory, Princeton University Press.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Brian J. Bergman & Jeffery S. McMullen, 2022. "Helping Entrepreneurs Help Themselves: A Review and Relational Research Agenda on Entrepreneurial Support Organizations," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(3), pages 688-728, May.
    2. Paula Rodríguez-Modroño, 2021. "Non-standard work in unconventional workspaces: Self-employed women in home-based businesses and coworking spaces," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(11), pages 2258-2275, August.
    3. Nosratabadi, Saeed & Mosavi, Amir & Shamshirband, Shahaboddin & Zavadskas, Edmundas Kazimieras & Rakotonirainy, Andry & Chau, Kwok Wing, 2020. "Sustainable Business Models: A Review," OSF Preprints u4xw3, Center for Open Science.
    4. Carles Méndez‐Ortega & Martijn J. Smit & Grzegorz Micek, 2024. "Location Patterns and Drivers of Coworking Spaces in European Regions," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 115(2), pages 281-301, April.
    5. Janet Merkel, 2019. "‘Freelance isn’t free.’ Co-working as a critical urban practice to cope with informality in creative labour markets," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(3), pages 526-547, February.
    6. Gantert, Till M. & Fredrich, Viktor & Bouncken, Ricarda B. & Kraus, Sascha, 2022. "The moral foundations of makerspaces as unconventional sources of innovation: A study of narratives and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1564-1574.
    7. Nina Thornton & Martin Engert & Andreas Hein & Helmut Krcmar, 2023. "Finding new purpose for vacancies in rural areas: a taxonomy of coworking space business models," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 1395-1423, September.
    8. Rategh, Yalda & Tamannaei, Mohammad & Zarei, Hamid, 2022. "A game-theoretic approach to an oligopolistic transportation market: Coopetition between incumbent systems subject to the entrance threat of an HSR service," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 144-171.
    9. Saeed Nosratabadi & Amir Mosavi & Shahaboddin Shamshirband & Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas & Andry Rakotonirainy & Kwok Wing Chau, 2019. "Sustainable Business Models: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-30, March.
    10. Danning Zhang & Ming Yan & Haowen Wang & Weiwei Li, 2021. "Sustainable-Development Measurement of China’s Coworking Industry Using Social-Network Analysis Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, May.
    11. Cristopher Siegfried Kopplin, 2021. "Two heads are better than one: matchmaking tools in coworking spaces," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 1045-1069, May.
    12. Cristopher Siegfried Kopplin & Till Marius Gantert & Julia Verena Maier, 2022. "Acceptance of matchmaking tools in coworking spaces: an extended perspective," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 1911-1943, August.
    13. Nosratabadi, Saeed & Mosavi, Amir & Shamshirband, Shahaboddin & Zavadskas, Edmundas Kazimieras & Rakotonirainy, Andry & Chau, Kwok Wing, 2020. "Sustainable Business Models: A Review," OSF Preprints ts54m, Center for Open Science.
    14. Hein, Nika & Melo, Teresa, 2024. "Bedarfsanalyse zum Aufbau eines Food Co-Working Space für die Verarbeitung regionaler Lebensmittel(überschüsse) im Saarland," Technical Reports on Logistics of the Saarland Business School 22, Saarland University of Applied Sciences (htw saar), Saarland Business School.
    15. Giuseppina Dell’Aversana & Massimo Miglioretti, 2025. "Coworking spaces for remote workers: an inclusive solution? Advantages and challenges from affiliated workers’ perspectives," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1131-1160, April.
    16. Hera Antoniades & Dulani Halvitigala & Chris Eves, 2018. "CoWorking Space v. The Traditional Office Space: Challenges and Opportunities in Sydney," ERES eres2018_294, European Real Estate Society (ERES).
    17. Jasmina Berbegal-Mirabent, 2021. "What Do We Know about Co-Working Spaces? Trends and Challenges Ahead," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-30, January.
    18. Sophie Boutillier & Ignasi Capdevila & Laurent Dupont & Laure Morel, 2020. "Collaborative spaces promoting creativity and innovation," Post-Print hal-02878132, HAL.
    19. Hensher, David A. & Wei, Edward & Beck, Matthew J., 2023. "The impact of COVID-19 and working from home on the workspace retained at the main location office space and the future use of satellite offices," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 184-195.
    20. Marko Orel & Manuel Mayerhoffer & Jana Fratricova & Anna Pilkova & Marzena Starnawska & Dora Horvath, 2022. "Coworking spaces as talent hubs: The imperative for community building in the changing context of new work," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(5), pages 1503-1531, July.
    21. Erik Rådman & Erik Johansson & Petra Bosch-Sijtsema & Hendry Raharjo, 2023. "In search of member needs in coworking spaces," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 881-907, April.
    22. Rianne Appel-Meulenbroek & Minou Weijs-Perrée & Marko Orel & Felix Gauger & Andreas Pfnür, 2021. "User preferences for coworking spaces; a comparison between the Netherlands, Germany and the Czech Republic," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(7), pages 2025-2048, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bosch-Domènech, Antoni & Vriend, Nicolaas J., 2013. "On the role of non-equilibrium focal points as coordination devices," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 52-67.
    2. Lorenzo Sacconi, 2011. "From individual responsibility to ÔsharedÕ social responsibilities: concepts for a new paradigm," Econometica Working Papers wp27, Econometica.
    3. Radzvilas, Mantas, 2016. "Hypothetical Bargaining and the Equilibrium Selection Problem in Non-Cooperative Games," MPRA Paper 70248, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Luis Medrano-Adán & Vicente Salas-Fumás & J. Sanchez-Asin, 2015. "Heterogeneous entrepreneurs from occupational choices in economies with minimum wages," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 597-619, March.
    5. Onyeka Osuji, 2011. "Fluidity of Regulation-CSR Nexus: The Multinational Corporate Corruption Example," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 103(1), pages 31-57, September.
    6. Nababan, Tongam Sihol, 2014. "Membangun Sustainable Entrepreneurship Untuk Meningkatkan Daya Saing Global (Building A Sustainable Entrepreneurship In Increasing Global Competitiveness) [Building A Sustainable Entrepreneurship I," MPRA Paper 65292, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Robert J. Bennett & Harry Smith & Piero Montebruno & Carry van Lieshout, 2022. "Changes in Victorian entrepreneurship in England and Wales 1851-1911: Methodology and business population estimates," Business History, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 64(7), pages 1211-1243, September.
    8. Guilhem Lecouteux, 2018. "What does “we” want? Team Reasoning, Game Theory, and Unselfish Behaviours," Revue d'économie politique, Dalloz, vol. 128(3), pages 311-332.
    9. Hendrik Vollmer, 2013. "What kind of game is everyday interaction?," Rationality and Society, , vol. 25(3), pages 370-404, August.
    10. Roy Thurik & Marcus Dejardin, 2012. "Entrepreneurship and Culture," Post-Print halshs-00943684, HAL.
    11. Ekaterina Melnik & Jean-Benoît Zimmermann, 2015. "The We and the I: The Logic of Voluntary Associations," Working Papers halshs-01109609, HAL.
    12. Bögenhold, Dieter & Fachinger, Uwe, 2012. "Unternehmertum: Unterschiedliche Facetten selbstständiger Berufstätigkeit [Entrepreneurship: Diverse aspects of self-employment]," MPRA Paper 51459, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Newton, Jonathan, 2017. "Shared intentions: The evolution of collaboration," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 517-534.
    14. Charalambos P. Charalambous & Marios C. Polemidiotis, 2017. "Wage Dynamics Network: SME Credit Constraints in Cyprus During the Period 2010-2013 and Effects on Employment, Wages and Prices," Cyprus Economic Policy Review, University of Cyprus, Economics Research Centre, vol. 11(2), pages 63-85, December.
    15. Nardo Vries & Werner Liebregts & André Stel, 2020. "Explaining entrepreneurial performance of solo self-employed from a motivational perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 447-460, August.
    16. Franz Dietrich & Christian List, 2013. "Where do preferences come from?," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 42(3), pages 613-637, August.
    17. Gächter, Simon & Lee, Kyeongtae & Sefton, Martin & Weber, Till O., 2024. "The role of payoff parameters for cooperation in the one-shot Prisoner's Dilemma," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    18. Gerardo Infante & Guilhem Lecouteux & Robert Sugden, 2016. "Preference purification and the inner rational agent: a critique of the conventional wisdom of behavioural welfare economics," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 1-25, March.
    19. Sheila Killian & Philip O'Regan & Ruth Lynch & Martin Laheen & Dionysios Karavidas, 2022. "Regulating havens: The role of hard and soft governance of tax experts in conditions of secrecy and low regulation," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(3), pages 722-737, July.
    20. Wynn C. Stirling & Teppo Felin, 2016. "Satisficing, preferences, and social interaction: a new perspective," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 81(2), pages 279-308, August.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:rsocec:v:75:y:2017:i:4:p:417-433. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/RRSE20 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.