Why UberCab is in trouble. This is the webpage of the S.F. taxi cartel

Re:Why UberCab is in trouble. This is the webpage of the S.F... by uvdiv on Sunday October 24, 2010 @10:19PM (#1828166)

Well, on the progressive side, when they want rent they argue that market prices are "unfairly low" (or high). Creating artificial scarcity is one way to inflate prices to "fair" levels, e.g. "living wages":

>Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham introduced legislation Tuesday to limit the number of taxicabs in D.C. through either a medallion system, like ones used in New York City and Chicago, or a certification system. [...] A glut of drivers could jeopardize the chances of any cabbies making an adequate living, Graham has said.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Cap-on-D_C_-cabs-sug...

...Though in this particular case the backstory turned out to be "the taxi cartels control the government".

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/24/dc-council-m...

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/crime/Ethiopian-comm...

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Re:Why UberCab is in trouble. This is the webpage of the S.F... by jessriedel on Monday October 25, 2010 @07:39AM (#1829373)

Thanks! This is the kind of example argument I was looking for.

(And of course it makes terrible economic sense. If the city wanted to transfer wealth to the taxi drivers from other citizens, it would be more efficient to just have a transparent tax and payment system, rather than a hidden cost through a monopoly. But I figure I don't have to convince you of that...)

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