The medallion system in e.g. NYC is a state-run franchise, and until Uber the medallions were an investment unto themselves. Many of the drivers were formal em

The medallion system in e.g. NYC is a state-run franchise, and until Uber the medallions were an investment unto themselves. Many of the drivers were formal employees of the medallion owners (not to say that labor abuse and political shenanigans didn’t exist, of course).