Abstract: Value co-creation and collaborative consumption, as the conceptual index in the sharing economy, have encouraged that users can transform into any roles, which thus promote the interaction of social relations and the generation of information data. Therefore, exploring the research hotspot based on the data-driven materials in the sharing economy can become the valuable reference for future research. This paper uses a combination of content analysis and bibliometric analysis to systematically analyze the most representative domestic and international empirical research in the sharing economy from 2014 to 2018. We summarize the entire research content framework from the perspective of data flow including research theories, research methods, research objects and research topics. In addition, we then compare the characteristics of domestic and international research in the sharing economy visually. In view of the shortcomings of the existing research, we propose the optimization of future research direction and construct the corresponding model framework from three aspects of multiple dimensions of research data, the credibility of research methods and the innovation of research topics.

Key words: Sharing economy, Value co-creation, Collaborative consumption, Empirical research, Bibliometric analysis, Research frontier