Efficiencies and Regulatory Shortcuts: How Should We Regulate Companies like Airbnb and Uber?

33 Pages Posted: 10 Sep 2015 Last revised: 24 Jul 2018

See all articles by Benjamin G. Edelman

Benjamin G. Edelman

Microsoft Corporation

Damien Geradin

Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC); University of East Anglia (UEA) - Centre for Competition Policy; Geradin Partners

Date Written: November 24, 2015

Abstract

New software platforms use modern information technology, including full-featured web sites and mobile apps, to allow service providers and consumers to transact with relative ease and increased trust. These platforms provide notable benefits including reducing transaction costs, improving allocation of resources, and information and pricing efficiencies. Yet they also raise questions of regulation, including how regulation should adapt to new services and capabilities, and how to correct market failures that may arise. We explore these challenges and suggest an updated regulatory framework that is sufficiently flexible to allow software platforms to operate and deliver their benefits, while ensuring that service providers, users and third parties are adequately protected from harms that may arise.

Keywords: platforms; regulation; sharing economy; Uber; Airbnb; universal service; Insurance

Suggested Citation

Edelman, Benjamin G. and Geradin, Damien, Efficiencies and Regulatory Shortcuts: How Should We Regulate Companies like Airbnb and Uber? (November 24, 2015). Stanford Technology Law Review 19 (2016): 293-328, Harvard Business School NOM Unit Working Paper No. 16-026, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2658603 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2658603

Benjamin G. Edelman (Contact Author)

Microsoft Corporation ( email )

One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.benedelman.org/

Damien Geradin

Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC) ( email )

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

University of East Anglia (UEA) - Centre for Competition Policy ( email )

UEA
Norwich Research Park
Norwich, Norfolk NR47TJ
United Kingdom

Geradin Partners ( email )

Avenue Louise 475
Brussels
Belgium

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