The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus will make it worse

Re:The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus... by bhl on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @07:52AM (#23245761)

Yes, Uber is more of a reverse Robinhood: its a net positive for those who skew to the right of the income distribution, and a net negative for those in the left. Who benefits from Uber? Uber employees, stockholders, riders. Who is worse off? Mainly Uber drivers, and maybe the vision fund (but who cares).

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Re:The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus... by GhostVII on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @08:15AM (#23245935)

If Uber drivers are worse off, why would they drive for Uber long term? Unless you are a taxi driver, I don't think Uber has taken your job, so if you are working for them it means they are providing you with something better than what you had before.

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Re:The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus... by elcomet on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @08:21AM (#23246017)

If you were a taxi driver and uber has taken your job, then you are don't have something better.

If you go work for them, you are paid less than you were as a taxi driver.

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Re:The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus... by jonfw on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @08:59AM (#23246316)

I've never had an uber driver who used to be a taxi driver personally.

Also- taxis provided a god-awful service who's pricing was only sustainable because of government regulation

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Re:The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus... by srnvs123 on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @12:27PM (#23248782)

I discovered the answer to this question a while ago when working in an uber eats competitor. Drivers continue to drive for uber long term because they literally cannot do much else.

Take toronto, ontario for instance. I've spoken to hundreds, and recruited hundreds of drivers, and ~85% of them speak very little english, have extremely few skills, and are in a position where they have to pay bills NOW, and can't afford to invest in themselves. Its sad, but they're trapped in a vicious cycle.

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Re:The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus... by sokoloff on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @08:23AM (#23246035)

Uber drivers are made worse off by Uber yet they join and drive in droves and overall seem happy about it. Do you have an explanation for this apparent contradiction?

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Re:The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus... by lancesells on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @08:29AM (#23246088)

Marketing, obfuscation, desperation.

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Re:The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus... by AlexandrB on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @08:33AM (#23246114)

Information asymmetry and failure to consider depreciation as a “real” expense.

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Re:The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus... by rightbyte on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @09:04AM (#23246365)

Ye I think this is a good point. They use their cars as a credit card. I.e wear for 100USD to get a similar amount in cash.

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Re:The startup economy is fundamentally broken and the virus... by TeaDrunk on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @08:29AM (#23246087)

They may not have another source of income at the moment.

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