decline-of-ownership
The diminishing importance of owning physical assets as companies and consumers prefer leasing, renting, or accessing goods and services.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Age of Access: The New Culture of Hypercapitalism, Where All of Life Is a Paid-For Experience (2000)Jeremy Rifkin
This chapter introduces the central thesis of 'The Age of Access,' describing the transition from a capitalist economy based on ownership and market exchanges to a new economy dominated by networks and access. It explains how physical property is increasingly leased or rented rather than owned, while intellectual capital becomes the primary source of value, shifting economic power towards those controlling access to ideas and knowledge. The chapter also highlights the cultural and economic implications of this shift, emphasizing the decline of traditional ownership in favor of short-term use and service relationships.