KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — People in Southeast Asia are among the most receptive to the idea of share economy, according to a Nielsen survey.
The survey indicated that four of the top five markets prepared to share or rent their personal assets for a fee come from the region.
In a share economy, also known as collaborative consumption and peer-to-peer rental arrangements, consumers rent or share items they own — such as furniture, sports equipment, cars and homes, or service they have — for profit.
Revenue from such arrangements is expected to surpass US$5.3 billion (RM17 billion) this year, with growth exceeding 25 per cent.
The study revealed that 12 per cent of consumers in Thailand were unwilling to share or rent their personal assets, 13 per cent in the Philippines, Indonesia 14 per cent, Vietnam 18 per cent and Malaysia 28 per cent.
In a statement today, Nielsen said Singaporeans were the least open among Southeast Asian consumers to sharing their assets, at 32 per cent. This was on par with the global average.
From the perspective of the user, willingness to pay to use the personal items and services of others is also strong in Southeast Asia.
The Nielsen Global Survey of Share Communities, which polled more than 30,000 consumers online in 60 countries, found Indonesians were the second most likely globally to rent products or services from a share community, while the Philippines ranked fourth.
Eighty-seven per cent of Indonesian consumers said they were likely to use shared products or services, followed by the Philippines (85 per cent), Thailand (84 per cent), Vietnam (76 per cent), Malaysia (74 per cent) and Singapore (67 per cent), compared with 66 per cent globally.
Electronic devices are among the most common items consumers in Southeast Asia are willing to share or rent. More than two in five consumers in Vietnam (42 per cent) would rent their electronic devices for a fee, along with Indonesians (37 per cent), Filipinos (33 per cent), Thais (31 per cent), Singaporeans (26 per cent) and Malaysians (24 per cent).
Other items consumers in the region are willing to rent include lessons and services, cars and motorcycles. — Bernama
