A Comparative Perspective to Competition Law Cases in the Ride-Sharing Industry: Reflections from Jurisdictions of Singapore, EU and India

Abstract

This study attempts to understand the effect and content of competition law jurisprudence engaged in the (digital) app based ride-sharing industry. The research undertakes a critical review of recent case laws law across three jurisdictions, adjudicated by competition regulatory authorities (in context to the ride sharing industrial sector).

These feature India, Singapore and the European Union, drawing a transnational contemporary perspective to how competition regulatory authorities view (competitive) disputes concerning economic agents within the digital economy landscape. As part of the review, one of the primary objectives is to understand the meaning of term “market definition“ and how competition regulatory authorities have delineated the relevant market with respect to this industry as part of the larger digital economic landscape, which is rapidly evolving.

Through the study, hurdles to delineating a relevant market were analysed from interpretations of recent case laws, further discussing why a common market definition has not been framed across jurisdictions, as well as within the same jurisdiction - as seen in the recent legal cases in India.

Keywords: Comparative Jurisprudence, Ride-Sharing Industry, Competition Law, Merger, Acquisition, Relevant Market, Market share, Geographic Market, Product Market

JEL Classification: O14, O52, O53, P51