Platform Urbanism and the Rentier Economy: Airbnb, Housing Vulnerability and Urban Displacement in Naples

The consolidation of platform capitalism has markedly accelerated the transformation of housing into a financial asset, catalyzing novel dynamics of urban and digital enclosure. Within this paradigm, rentier platforms such as Airbnb emerge as socio-technical infrastructures that actively reshape access to urban housing and redefine property relations. This study draws upon critical urban geography, economic geography, and Science and Technology Studies (STS) to examine the mechanisms through which digital platforms alter the political economy of housing, positioning themselves as digital rentiers within fragmented or nonexistent regulatory frameworks. Focusing on the proliferation of short-term rentals (STRs) facilitated by platforms like Airbnb, this research conceptualizes these platforms as infrastructures that reconfigure the spatial, financial, and symbolic dimensions of urban living. This study investigates the dynamics of displacement and overtourism in Southern European cities, particularly through the lens of short-term rental platforms. It seeks to answer the following research questions: How is the territorial distribution of short-term rentals configured across various urban districts, and what spatial patterns can be delineated? Furthermore, in what ways does transnational tourist pressure—amplified by digital platforms—interact with pre-existing local housing vulnerabilities to reshape geographies of exclusion? Empirically situated in Naples, the investigation employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative tools (such as Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis, web scraping, and official datasets from ISTAT and OMI) with qualitative interviews conducted with property managers. Findings indicate a pronounced concentration of STRs in central urban districts characterized by elevated symbolic value and accessibility, particularly in UNESCO-designated areas. In these contexts, the rent gap incentivizes the transformation of residential units into lucrative tourist assets. The analysis further synthesizes data on evictions, property sales, rental price trends, and the evolution of Airbnb listings from 2015 to 2024, cross-referenced with socio-spatial indicators. Two composite indices—housing vulnerability and tourism pressure—are developed to pinpoint "critical areas" where these dynamics intersect. Consequently, the platform not only functions as a technological intermediary but also emerges as a significant political actor in the rent-driven urban landscape, reinforcing an extractive housing ecosystem that undermines the social function of dwelling. The findings advocate for the establishment of renewed regulatory frameworks that are rooted in principles of spatial justice.