[duaneb]

Not before destroying any competition with cripplingly low rates. That's the problem: I can't hail a goddamn taxi anymore, despite it being cheaper by any back of the envelope calculation for society as a whole.

[MarkPNeyer]

> despite it being cheaper by any back of the envelope calculation for society as a whole.

Can you explain this? Not challenging, just curious.

[flukus]

The gig economy is going to be terrible for society, everyone is a couple of bad reviews away from the street.

[monk_e_boy]

You know.... a monopoly controlling drivers is... um... some how better.

In all seriousness, Uber drives down price to a point that no one can really figure out if being an uber driver is profitable. Uber makes money, but none of that proffit is spent in the local economy. Capitalism doesn't work at that scale... look at the loss they can endure, compare that to a local cab firm, or even somewhere like NY.

[aianus]

> despite it being cheaper by any back of the envelope calculation for society as a whole.

How is it 'cheaper' to manufacture extra yellow cars and have them drive around aimlessly searching the streets for fares vs. hitching a ride with my neighbour who drives for Uber part-time with the personal car he'd have bought anyways?

[temp]

>drive around aimlessly searching the streets for fare

That's not how Taxis work in my neck of the woods.

I call a company, get a cab at the time I want it.

Or I use their app or website, share my location, and get a cab arriving at the time I want it to.

And yes, they still pay the driving a living wage, take care of the insurance and don't treat me like crap unlike Uber.

[carb]

What's the back of the envelope calculation?