PlatformCooperativism:DemocraticallyRun(Nonprofit)DigitalOrganizationsNPOFORUM@JIC

ANINTRODUCTIONTOPLATFORMCOOPERATIVISM&INVITATIONFORCONSORTIUMCONTRIBUTIONS

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiumFormation(October24,2017.MathiasSager)

Agenda

I. ThenewlyfoundedPCJII. WhatisPlatformCooperativismIII. WorkerCo-operativesinJapan§ Socialeconomy,co-operativesandNPOs§ Examples(Health&Welfare,BiodieselFuel,EcoTech)

V. PotentialforPlatformCooperativisminthesocialeconomy

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 2

VisionfortheFutureofWorkandaFairerInternet“ImagineUberwereownedbyitsTaxidriverssotheycouldco-ownanddemocraticallyco-decideontheirbusiness,web-platform,andwork

conditions.”#uber #sharingeconomy #feeextraction #shareholdervalue#marketpower #profitmaximization #localtaxibusinesses

#nosupport #ownapps #cooperativeway

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 3

ThePlatformCooperativismConsortiumv 2015:Conferenceasa“comingoutpartyforthe

cooperativeInternet”v 2016:LaunchofthePlatformCooperativism

ConsortiuminNewYorkCity(Founder,TreborScholz,TheNewSchool)

v 2017August:InitiationofthePlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminTokyo(Founder,MathiasSager)

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 4

ThePCJ’sMissionisto:Ø Advocatetheroleofplatformcooperativisminafairer

futureofworkØ Workwithpartnerstodevelopalocalresearchagenda

forthesectorØ Shareimpactfulstoriesofplatformcooperativism’s

potentialØ Helpplatformcooperativesgetstarted

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 5

Website: platformjpcoop.wordpress.com/Facebook: www.facebook.com/platformcoopjp/

NextEvent

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 6

GlobalDirectory(TheInternetofOwnershipWebsite)

200PlatformCooperativismecosystemorganizationsandplatformco-opscomprisingallies,openplatforms,co-oprunplatforms,platformco-ops,sharedplatforms,andrecoursesbeingactiveinadiverserangeofindustries.

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 7

TappingcivicassetsthroughtheuseofthecommonInternetforthecreationofprivateprofit

610,000rooms,88countries 650,000rooms,192countries

93yearstobuild 4yearstoamass

•Valuation> 30 billion (2016)•Number of offices: 21 all over the world•Headcount: 2368 people (Nov., 2015)

•Valuation> 23 billion (2016)•Number of offices: 5000+ all over the world•Headcount: 169,000 people (2016)

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 8

DigitalPlatform

Cost/Unit

Distributor Retailer

Retailer

Manufacturer

Manufacturer

Manufacturer Consumer

Consumer

Consumer

Governance&DigitalDisintermediation

DigitalPlatformoperator:

Hassolemediatorposition

+Isnotregulated

=Marketplacepowerlikeagovernment

$50.00

$45.25

$36.00

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 9

Inequality

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 10

Everyday22,000childrendieduetopoverty(UNESCO)

Exploitingcheaplaboranddenyingachildfoodandeducationdoesnothappenbyaccident.Itistheendresultofpolicyandfundingchoices.

PersonalDataMarketandPrivacyCHALLENGES “Theworld’smost

valuableresourceisnolongeroil,butdata.”–

TheEconomistDatacreatedinsharingeconomy

platformsbythepublic

hasbecomeprivateandexclusiveproperty.

Dataisusedtoprotectandexpanddominance.

ü Let’sbuythem(seriously)ü Let’screatepeople’sown

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 11

StagnatingWagesCHALLENGES

FacebookinSiliconValley,makingmorethan$1billioninquarterlyprofit,seesitscafeteriaworkersvotetounionizeinamoveforhigherwages,fairhoursandsecurebenefits.

COOPERA

TIVE

APP

ROAC

HES

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 12

Platformtypicallytake30percentaway!

ShiftAwayfromDirectEmployment&StalledWorkerRights

For50%ofAmazonMechanicalTurkandCrowdflower’sunprotectedworkers,theplatformworkisanessentialsourceofincome!

Exampleissue:Inaverage18minutesofunpaidsearchforeveryhourworking(ILOsurvey) HOWABOUTJAPAN?

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 13

1/3 ofAmericansarefreelancers.40%by2020.

Noregulationyetofplatforms,andthereforelackofjobsecurity

andfewlaborprotections

AddressingSocio-economicConditions

CapacitiesbeyondvolunteeringneedtobecreatedtounlockIkigai’sfullpotential,by§Supportingbusinessstart-upsingeneral§SupportivesystemsforestablishingandmanagingNPOs§ Including(workers’)co-operatives

JWCUNov. 2016Part-timeWorkers 1.82millionNon-regularEmployment Rate 37.5 %LowIncomeWorkers/“WorkingPoor” 11.39million

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 14

TheNon-profitSector

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 15

Figure 1: Positioning of social enterprise for three regions

Market State

Civil society

• Tryingtocoversocialissuesleftbymarketandgovernmentfailure

• PartoftheThirdSector,theSocialEconomy,theSolidarityEconomy

• Neighborhood organizations, voluntary activities, non-governmental organization (NGO), NPO, and Co-operatives

• Demographic, tax, and lifestyle considerations

LegalcomparisonofNPOsandCo-operativesNPO

• Benefittingtheircommunity

• Canbegoverneddemocratically,forprofit

• Cannotdistributeprofitstomembersorinvestors

• Financedthroughdonations

• Tax-exemptpurposesmustbenefitthebroaderpublicandacharitable classofpeople(suchaslow-income,distressed,marginalized,etc).

CO-OPERATIVE• Benefittingtheircommunity/members

• Canbegoverneddemocratically,forprofit

• Distributesofprofitsbasedonparticipation

• Financedthroughsalesofgoodsandservices

• Itcouldbearguedthatcreatingdemocratically-run(nonprofit)organizationsandrelatedjobs isacharitable activityitself!

•ManyNPOsarerunasworkercollectives

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 16

Examplesofcivicsocietyco-opsinJapan:HealthandWelfareCo-ops

§ Goal:Preventivehealthcare

§ Ownership:Localresidentsco-opsmembersownandoperatemedical-careandnursing-care

§ Staff:37,437

§ SupportingCo-opmembers:2.92million

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 17

http://www.hew.coop/english/

PlatformExampleMidata.coop HealthResearchPlatformCo-op

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 18

ExampleWorkerCo-opJapan:WorkIntegrationinCleanEnergyIndustry—theBiodieselFuelProject:“Aguriin”—

Question: Howtoexpandto/throughthedigitaleconomy?

§ Combatagainstpovertyandyouthunemployment

§ JWCU educational,re-socialization,workintegrationprograms

§ 4BiodieselFuelplantsmanagedasworkerco-operatives,foundedfrom2011– 2015

§ TheBiodieselFuelproducedisusedbymany,suchaslocalbuscompaniesandotherenterprises

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 19

JapanWorkers’Co-operativeUnion(JWCU)goal:• To create jobs that can contribute to the

society,• To support and raise the spirit of

"creating own jobs,”• To improve quality of work: to work and

live like a human,• To develop a new "public" sector

through associated work, and• To promote civic involvement in

community development.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQXdydXbQI4

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 20

ExampleWorkerCo-opJapan:EnvironmentalProducts:EcoTech§ Productsthatareeasyontheenvironment,helpcleanitup,orareless

energydemanding

§ Forexample,abio-activehomecomposterthatreducesallorganicwasteinjustafewdaystowaterandCO2

§ EcoTechs vision:Tobecomethecenterofanenvironmentalproductsmovement,including:

§ Producers,customers,universitylabs,NPOsandNGOs,localandregionalgovernments,worker,consumerandproducercooperatives

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 21

Workers'CoopEcotech,N.P.O

Wrap-up

PlatformCooperativismJapan(PCJ)ConsortiuminFormation 22

Foranyfeedback,input,question,orrequest,pleaseletusknowatanytime!

platformcoopjp@gmail.com

www.platformjpcoop.wordpress.com

Andpleaseconnectwith/likeusonFacebookandTwitter:

www.facebook.com/platformcoopjp

Theextensionoftheco-operativemovementtothedigitaleconomy,youth,andinternational

dimensionisvitalforgrowingtheSocialEconomy.