Nura Jabagi, PhD candidate in Business Technology Management at Concordia, published an opinion piece in The Montreal Gazette.
Drawing on her research studying digital labour platforms, Jabagi explains how the government’s recent extension of the Uber pilot project may create unanticipated barriers for future competitors due to the phenomenon of network effects. She also explains why and how a homegrown ride-hailing service could have an edge if the government would open the Quebec ride-hailing market to competition.
“Considering Montreal’s efforts to become a global hub for entrepreneurial and technological activity, it’s time to rethink this government-sanctioned monopoly, open the market to competition, and promote local players. Tax dollars from ride-hailing services can be used to support taxi drivers and modernize that dying industry, as well as prop up our financially strapped transit system.”