The New Wave Brought by the Sharing Economy: Employment, Tax Revenue, Regional Distribution, and Regulatory Debates

In Brazil, the "sharing economy," centered around short-term rentals like Airbnb, has expanded to a scale comparable to traditional industries. According to a study by FGV (Getulio Vargas Foundation), in 2024 alone, this activity circulated approximately 99.8 billion reais in the economy, supported 628,000 jobs, added 55.8 billion reais to GDP, and generated 8 billion reais in direct tax revenue【InfoMoney】. Moreover, the multiplier effect shows that every 10 reais spent on accommodation boosts consumption in other sectors by 52 reais, significantly expanding in areas such as dining, transportation, retail, and leisure【InfoMoney】【Airbnb Official Release】【Hotelier News】. Regionally, the Southeast leads with about 54.9 billion reais, followed by the South and Northeast, promoting the dispersion of tourism and boosting household income. Meanwhile, in urban areas, political debates over regulatory frameworks are intensifying. In Rio, the **Short-Term Rental Regulation Bill (PL372/2025)** is being discussed in the city council, with FGV's city-specific data (99 billion reais within the city, 560 million reais added to GDP, and 61,600 jobs) serving as key points of discussion【Veja Rio/Column】【Airbnb Official: Rio】【City Council Public Hearing】. On social media, voices praising the "practical benefits to the local economy" are spreading, while concerns about "the impact on the housing market and hotel industry" remain strong. The utility shown by the numbers and the complexity of rule-making—these are the current challenges of the "sharing economy."