Sharing systems are all the rage

Sharing image.Can less consumption be more fun? Yes, when it’s social. The “collaborative consumption” trend didn’t start this year (the Zipcar car-sharing service launched way back in 2000), but the sharing movement has blossomed big-time. Airbnb, which lets you rent your home to travelers, made the biggest splash in 2011. People are also sharing their cars, kitchen utensils, gardens, taxis, DVDs, jobs — you name it. Think of it as the fine art of consensual mooching.