The access economy is a business model where goods and services are temporarily rented instead of permanently transferring ownership (e.g. AirBnB and Uber transportation).  This must be distinguished from a sharing economy, where access to goods and services is temporarily offered at no charge (e.g. libraries and tool borrowing).

The implication of an access economy is "that consumers are more interested in lower costs and convenience than they are in fostering social relationships with the company or other consumers. […] It is important to highlight the benefits that access provides in contrast to the disadvantages of ownership and sharing.  These consist of convenient and cost-effective access to valued resources, flexibility, and freedom from the financial, social, and emotional obligations embedded in ownership and sharing."

source: Giana M. Eckhardt & Fleura Bardhi (Harvard Business Review)

It is particularly telling (and sad) that Eckhardt and Bardhi see “freedom from the social and emotional obligations embedded in sharing” as a benefit instead of a down side of this access model, but that certainly aligns with today’s number-based value set.  Present-day economics seems to recommend avoiding social and emotional relationships in all transactions.