4 ms·

Regulation is what starts the ball rolling. I won't dispute that the outcome is often sub-optimal in some ways (like the one you cited) But the point is that

Regulation is what starts the ball rolling. I won't dispute that the outcome is often sub-optimal in some ways (like the one you cited) But the point is that the result is a whole apparatus which acts to preserve the status quo: the regulators themselves (who like being employed), the operators that are profiting from the system, etc. I'm trying to stay away from the political hot potato of whether taxi regulation is a net positive thing or not! It's not really relevant to the point I'm making. Whether it's profit or bureaucracy that are the drivers now, I think we agree: Uber must have known this was coming. I look forward to seeing what Uber has planned; perhaps operating a dispatch service over regular taxis?

chefsurfing 14y ago
I think your analysis is correct. It seems likely they will be forced to integrate and become a taxi service dispatch infrastructure provider. It seems a smarter move to accept how "sub-optimal" markets such as these have become and deal with unreality on it's terms than to resist the corruption outright on principal.
- uvdiv 14y ago
  They can't integrate -- it's the whole point of the corruption, to maintain a cartel with limited supply, so as to inflate prices and profits. They don't want them to operate "within the rules" -- they want them to not operate, period. No new taxis in D.C.: The supply of cabs is limited by a licensing exam for drivers that's been closed since 2010. http://reason.com/blog/2011/12/22/the-medallion-bill-is-back-dc-taxi-chief http://reason.com/blog/2011/12/22/the-medallion-bill-is-back... From an article about D.C.'s plans to establish explicit supply caps (quotas), like the ones already in place in NYC, SF, etc.
  - justinsb 14y ago
    TaxiMagic seems to be operating without any government interference, by integrating with the existing taxi services.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- chefsurfing 14y ago
  They can integrate if they can make a successful bid to join the cartels or gain significant leverage with the uber-cartels ( governmental entities ).

chefsurfing 14y ago

I think your analysis is correct. It seems likely they will be forced to integrate and become a taxi service dispatch infrastructure provider. It seems a smarter move to accept how "sub-optimal" markets such as these have become and deal with unreality on it's terms than to resist the corruption outright on principal.

uvdiv 14y ago
They can't integrate -- it's the whole point of the corruption, to maintain a cartel with limited supply, so as to inflate prices and profits. They don't want them to operate "within the rules" -- they want them to not operate, period. No new taxis in D.C.: The supply of cabs is limited by a licensing exam for drivers that's been closed since 2010. http://reason.com/blog/2011/12/22/the-medallion-bill-is-back-dc-taxi-chief http://reason.com/blog/2011/12/22/the-medallion-bill-is-back... From an article about D.C.'s plans to establish explicit supply caps (quotas), like the ones already in place in NYC, SF, etc.
- justinsb 14y ago
  TaxiMagic seems to be operating without any government interference, by integrating with the existing taxi services.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
chefsurfing 14y ago
They can integrate if they can make a successful bid to join the cartels or gain significant leverage with the uber-cartels ( governmental entities ).