Uber and the Rule of Law: Should Spontaneous Liberalization Be Applauded or Criticized?

Competition Policy International (2015)

George Mason Law & Economics Research Paper No. 15-53

12 Pages Posted: 22 Nov 2015 Last revised: 4 Dec 2015

See all articles by Damien Geradin

Damien Geradin

Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC); University of East Anglia (UEA) - Centre for Competition Policy; Geradin Partners

Date Written: November 20, 2015

Abstract

While Uber is able to operate legally in a growing number of countries and cities, regulatory approval has proved to be elusive in other jurisdictions. Yet, in a number of regions or cities Uber decided to launch its services despite the absence of regulatory approval. The fact that Uber has decided to engage in “spontaneous liberalisation” has drawn criticism from various quarters. But should Uber be blamed for failing to comply with certain regulatory requirements or should they be applauded for pushing the boundaries of the law? Whether spontaneous liberalization should be applauded or criticized depends. While there is generally no justification for ignoring rules that are necessary to protect the services’ users and nonusers from the risks that are inherent to the carrying of passengers on public roads, there is an element of public good in testing the boundaries of public restrictions of competition. Whatever happens to Uber’s efforts to challenge rules impeding its ability to deliver certain categories of services in certain markets, the taxi industry has already changed for the better as many taxi companies have developed their own apps, either alone or with others, and efforts have been to improve their quality of service. Uber was a needed electroshock in an industry whose actors had often become complacent and failed to meet user expectations.

Keywords: Uber, online platforms, electronic marketplaces, two-sided markets, competition, taxi services, care-sharing services, transportation, regulation, regulatory barriers to entry

JEL Classification: H41, K23, K 21, K40, L51, L91

Suggested Citation

Geradin, Damien, Uber and the Rule of Law: Should Spontaneous Liberalization Be Applauded or Criticized? (November 20, 2015). Competition Policy International (2015), George Mason Law & Economics Research Paper No. 15-53, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2693683

Damien Geradin (Contact Author)

Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC) ( email )

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

University of East Anglia (UEA) - Centre for Competition Policy ( email )

UEA
Norwich Research Park
Norwich, Norfolk NR47TJ
United Kingdom

Geradin Partners ( email )

Avenue Louise 475
Brussels
Belgium

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