Personal profile
Overview
Luke Yates is a Researcher in the Sustainable Consumption Institute and a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on everyday life, consumption and technology. He is programme director of Manchester's BSocSc in Sociology.
Current and recent research has included the examination of digital 'platform' economy businesses such as Uber and Airbnb (open-access article here, book here); collective action and social practice theory, 'everyday' life and its relationships with consumption, changes in everyday practices (around eating habits and economies of sharing in households), and strategy. See Research tab for more.
Research interests
Specific research interests
- Sociology of consumption and socio-economic change
- The new digital 'platform economy'
- Imagination, 'futures' and prefigurative politics
- Everyday life
- Everyday practices, particularly living arrangements, sharing, food, and households
Supervision information
I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students with interests in
- digital sociology / the platform economy
- consumer culture
- environmental sociology
- alternative institutions and economic practices
- prefigurative politics
- theories of practice
- political strategy
External positions
External examiner, Masters in Sociology, The University of Essex
1 Sept 2025 → …
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Sustainable Consumption Institute
- Sustainable Futures
- Creative Manchester
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
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A raised platform: regulating the digital economy
Yates, L., 19 Sept 2024Research output: Other contribution
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Corporate movements: Silicon Valley businesses create and support apparently independent social movements advocating for deregulation
Yates, L., 29 Nov 2024, In: Social Movement Studies. p. 1-8 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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Introduction to the Special Issue: Foregrounding social movement futures: collective action, imagination, and methodology
Yates, L., Daniel, A., Gerharz, E. & Feldman, S., 3 May 2024, In: Social Movement Studies. 23, 4, p. 429-445 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open AccessFile145 Downloads (Pure) -
Platform Politics: Corporate Power, Grassroots Movements and the Sharing Economy
Yates, L., 29 Nov 2024, Bristol University Press.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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How platform businesses mobilize their users and allies: Corporate grassroots lobbying and the Airbnb ‘movement’ for deregulation
Yates, L., 1 Oct 2023, In: Socio-Economic Review. 21, 4, p. 1917-1943 27 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
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Morgan Centre for Research into Everyday Lives
Nordqvist, P. (PI), Woodward, S. (PI), Balmer, A. (PI), Fenton, L. (PI), Hannell, B. (PI), Lewis, C. (PI), Hall, S. M. (PI), Heaphy, B. (PI), Heath, S. (PI), Hicks, S. (PI), Holmes, H. (PI), Mancuso, J. (PI), Mathrani Chakraborty, R. (PI), Meckin, R. (PI), Price, D. (PI), Reed, K. (PI), Tinkler, P. (PI), Tomlinson, M. (PI), Towers, L. (PI), Yates, L. (PI), Hodgson, J. (PI), Finch, J. (PI), Mason, J. (PI) & Smart, C. (PI)
1/09/05 → 30/09/50
Project: Research
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SCI re assignment of 57604 for 18-19
Southerton, D. (PI), Azapagic, A. (CoI), Boons, F. (CoI), Evans, J. (CoI), Gallego Schmid, A. (CoI), Heeks, R. (CoI), Hodson, M. (CoI), Holmes, H. (CoI), Katz-Gerro, T. (CoI), MacGregor, S. (CoI), Mylan, J. (CoI), Paterson, M. (CoI), Sharmina, M. (CoI), Welch, D. (CoI) & Yates, L. (CoI)
1/09/18 → 31/12/19
Project: Research
Prizes
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Institute for Advanced Studies in Sustainability, Potsdam
Yates, L. (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Activities
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Empty Homes Seminar: Airbnb in Manchester
Yates, L. (Speaker)
21 Oct 2021Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research
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Alternative Futures and Popular Protest
Gillan, K. (Co-Organiser), Fadaee, S. (Co-Organiser), Tinsley, M. (Co-Organiser), Yates, L. (Co-Organiser) & Vuckovic, C. (Co-Organiser)
1 Jan 2021 → 1 Jul 2021Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research
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Leeds, UK: Household Sharing and Consumption: Economies of Scale inside and outside the Household
Yates, L. (Speaker)
2020Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research
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London/Manchester UK: Political Struggles in the Platform Economy: The Case of Airbnb
Yates, L. (Speaker)
2020Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research
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Neuchatel, Switzerland: The Politics of the Platform Economy: Understanding platform legitimation tactics
Yates, L. (Speaker)
2020Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research
Press/Media
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The Conversation: How Airbnb and Uber use activist tactics that disguise their corporate lobbying as grassroots campaigns
15/04/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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El Salto Diario: Airbnb recruits and finances networks of owners to challenge regulation of short-term lettings
10/04/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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The Financial Times: Airbnb using ‘independent’ host groups to lobby policymakers
21/03/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Evening Standard: Office workers eat the same lunch every day for two years, says study
3/05/18
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research