The collaborative economy from a service-dominant logic lens: a conceptual typology

Purpose Despite the rise of collaborative, peer-based exchanges that have reshaped service provision, there remains a need for research that (1) accounts for the complexity of collaborative service systems, (2) explicates submarkets and exchange behaviors, (3) addresses theoretical underpinnings and (4) proposes future research directions. This article addresses these gaps by introducing an integrative typology of the Collaborative Economy (CE) grounded in Service-Dominant (S-D) logic. Design/methodology/approach We conducted an interdisciplinary review of CE conceptualizations and used creative synthesis to develop a typology based on three dimensions: compensated versus free, mediated versus direct and access versus ownership. The framework identifies four CE markets and eight collaborative exchange behaviors (CEBs). Findings Existing CE typologies provide valuable but partial perspectives, often emphasizing isolated dimensions or excluding noncommercial and nonmediated exchanges. The framework conceptualizes CE markets as institutionalized service arrangements that differ in how actors integrate resources, coordinate exchange and cocreate value. Collaborative exchanges may substitute for, coexist with or become institutionalized alongside traditional market forms. Research limitations/implications The typology supports cumulative CE research and offers a research agenda addressing platform innovation, institutionalization, sustainability, blockchain-based exchange and harmful consequences. Practical implications The framework helps managers and platform designers align governance structures, incentives and service design with underlying exchange logics. Social implications The framework highlights how collaborative practices can expand access, substitute for traditional transactions and generate beneficial or harmful societal outcomes. Originality/value This research integrates previously siloed concepts, clarifies underlying exchange mechanisms and provides a coherent foundation for theorizing CE market evolution and actor engagement.