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Should We Regulate Internet Companies Like Uber And Airbnb

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Should we regulate internet companies like Uber and Airbnb? The so-called ‘sharing economy’ has experienced a staggering rate of growth in the last decade, with companies like Uber and Airbnb paving the way for a new form of service provision. Uber, a ride sharing service set up in 2007, with an estimated net worth of over $60 billion in 2015 (Bloomberg), has seen a phenomenal rate of growth, which was accelerated by the launch of the cheaper ‘UberX’ in 2008 (figure 1). Airbnb, worth approximately $20 billion in 2015 (Skift), is described as a short term rental platform service, and has seen similar exponential growth rates (figure 2). These two examples are merely the tip of the iceberg in this micro-entrepreneurial revolution - this new format …show more content…

New York City taxi driver’s accident rates are one-third lower than other drivers, on a per-mile basis (Schaller Consulting), and in 2015 the number of Uber affiliated vehicles on the road in NYC surpassed the number yellow taxicabs (14,0833 to 13, 587 according to the Taxi and Limousine Commission). As a result, opponents of Uber claim it’s growth has led to a higher number of ‘dangerous’ drivers on the road, creating a greater chance of road accidents -some suggest drivers monitoring the app itself is dangerous as this creates a …show more content…

While taxis are required by law to provide access to passengers in wheelchairs, there is no such provision ensured by Uber. Equally, Airbnb hosts are under no obligation to provide wheelchair accessible properties. In this way, some customers may benefit from lower prices (due to the lack of regulation on equal provision) however disabled consumers will lose out, hence it will not be a Pareto improvement. Uber drivers not being required to work certain areas exemplifies this again, and has resulted in certain areas in cities becoming black spots for transport provision. Figure 3 shows the wait times for an Uber across Washington DC, with the poorest regions like Bellevue and Washington height waiting the longest, and sometimes struggling to get an Uber at

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984 Words | 4 Pages

What the government could do is to encourage it. Either way, a recent UK tribunal case that Uber drivers are not self-employed and so should be subject to traditional labour rights does not serve to the advantage of actual and potential drivers. The sensible thing UK’s government should do is to protect the collective bargaining rights by actual and potential Uber drivers, and upheld

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1252 Words | 6 Pages

In the article “Uber Sends Lobbyists to Help Reshape California Laws” by Alison Vekshin it states that “The San Francisco company's lobbyists are pushing lawmakers to exempt its drivers from obtaining commercial licenses before they can ferry passengers” (1). According to Vekshin “Uber has spent almost $1 million since 2013 on lobbyists in California” (1) in order to push for the legislation they want passed. As well Vekshin states that Uber is “backing legislation that would let the companies charge split fares for shared rides and a bill that would exempt its drivers from having to get commercial license plates” (2). This is a threat to interest groups that support taxicab and limousine companies because it is stealing business from those

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539 Words | 3 Pages

Gregg Easterbrook, a fellow of the Brookings Institution and LA Times contributor, argues in his article, “Road Kill,” that deaths on the highway roads in America is a large and ignored problem. Easterbrook argues that the cause of the deaths can be linked to horsepower and cell phone usage. The author also writes the problem is ignored, because of moral differences and the feeling that the crashes can’t be prevented. Easterbrook also writes that the fatalities are not just limited to the drivers on the road. The author writes about the increased number of fatalities of pedestrians when crossing the streets, which further adds to the argument that the problem needs to be adressed and not ignored like it currently is (1-2).

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720 Words | 3 Pages

Road rage, ignoring traffic laws, drinking and driving, or texting and driving are becoming a convention. As more people convert to these unacceptable actions, the roads become even more perilous. Reevaluating the way individuals drive could end up saving someone’s

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982 Words | 4 Pages

Although, this might not tackle Thompson’s main concern of reducing parking areas, driverless cars for ride-sharing purposes will bring numerous benefits. Uber has been gaining popularity over the past few years, reportedly “making 1 million trips per day; this past summer,” (5) from their standard service. The newly introduced ride-sharing service by Uber – Uber Pool –has unexpectedly performed exceptionally well (5). The success of Uber Pool can be attributed to cheaper prices – being at least 25 percent cheaper compared to typical Uber fare (5) – and social norms transitioning to being environmentally ethical. With these strengths from ride-sharing, there is no doubt the introduction of driverless cars to the ride-sharing transportation sector would make it more proficient.

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This service has quickly flourished in untapped markets. Uber has now launched UberX, which competes against discount-priced competitors, such as Lyft, and is in direct competition with taxicabs. UberX allows smaller vehicles and employs drivers who aren't commercially licensed. Taxi representing trade groups have balked, saying that the company lacks appropriate screening and training for drivers, endangers the safety of its customers and generates unfair market competition. City governments continue to debated limits to car amounts that ride-sharing companies are permitted to put on the road.

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The article compares Ubers and taxis and concludes that Ubers’ threat is likely to decimate the taxi industry. One point the author argues is taxis are unable to compete with Ubers’ traction because the cost of taxis could be undercut by Ubers. In my opinion, the author has a wrong reasoning. For both Ubers and taxis to supply services, they are always willing to maximize profits in the market. So if we compare who is more likely to win in the market, the evaluation should be who can earn more profits rather than whose costs are lower.

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539 Words | 3 Pages

In London, a woman suffered a Uber driver who wanted sex with her (Picchi, 2014). A woman applied a lawsuit against the Uber company because she was violated by the Uber driver in New Delhi (Isaac, 2015). Some government people and citizens consider that Uber company do not have enough protection for consumers (Picchi, 2014). Uber committed to strengthening the background investigation of the driver, but Los Angeles Times consider that statement is giving customers a misguided sense of security (Picchi, 2014). Uber asked the driver to buy his commercial auto insurance, but the

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1748 Words | 7 Pages

A young, 27-year-old, co-founder of the frozen smoothie kit company PACK’D, Luke Johnstone, was named young entrepreneur of the year in 2016 (“From Freezing Shed to Frozen Drinks Rise of the Smoothie Operator” par. 1). Like the Woodstock entrepreneurs, Johnstone quit his job to start his business, but he was not lucky enough for his dream to happen in just a short nine months like the other four men, his took two years of living in a shed in the back of his parents garden (“From Freezing Shed to Frozen Drinks Rise of the Smoothie Operator” par. 4). Another young entrepreneur, like the Woodstock entrepreneurs, is high school sophomore, Natalie Abbott. Abbott turned her 4-H project into her business, The West Hill Honey Company, where she sells honey and lip balm(“Chi-Hi Student Wins State Business Award” par. 1). Although Abbott is younger than the Woodstock entrepreneurs, they are alike because she did not work alone, she had help of her mother and father, just as the four men had the help of each other (“Chi-Hi Student Wins State Business Award” par. 1).

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927 Words | 4 Pages

Uber, like any other driving service should have rules and regulations to ensure they provide an appropriate service to the

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Uber Impact Uber has been an up-and-coming business located in cities all across America for six years. The ride-sharing service came to South Carolina in July, 2014 in cities such as Columbia, Charleston, Greenville and Myrtle Beach. To use Uber, one must download the Uber app onto their cell phone or tablet and enter their credit card information. As soon as everything checks out, one can start ‘Ubering’ anytime! Americans should be pro-Uber because it gives people more reliability with transportation and distributes more wealth among the businesses and people in our society.

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618 Words | 3 Pages

Lastly smartphones are increasing the risk of a car accident, 3-4 times greater chance of having an accident when smartphones re in se while driving due to

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1233 Words | 5 Pages

The situation of the Uber drivers is under confusion. It is easy for the company to tell the drivers that this will be the future, but the occupation and the life of the Uber drivers’ matters a lot. Peak demand

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Supporters assert that Uber is altering the transportation benefit industry. Financial specialists plainly trust Uber will be solid in the market over the long haul. Uber has a brilliant future and development openings are tremendous. It is hence imperative for Uber to guarantee the wellbeing of their riders and the drivers. They ought to likewise embrace controls to guarantee that self-employed entities utilizing their application obey important nation laws.

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772 Words | 4 Pages

Customers may decide to use a company other than Airbnb because there are so many companies similar to it. Also, with technology advancing at the rate it is, a new alternate concept may arise that could replace

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