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Do Digital Platforms Reduce Moral Hazard? The Case of Uber and Taxis

Author

Listed:
  • Meng Liu
  • Erik Brynjolfsson
  • Jason Dowlatabadi

Abstract

Digital platforms like Uber can enhance market transparency and mitigate moral hazard via ratings of buyers and sellers, real-time monitoring, and low-cost complaint channels. We compare driver choices at Uber with taxis by matching trips so they are subject to the same optimal route. We also study drivers who switch from taxis to Uber. We find: (1) drivers in taxis detour about 7% on airport routes, with non-local passengers experiencing longer detours; (2) these detours lead to longer travel times; and (3) drivers on the Uber platform are more likely to detour on airport routes with high surge pricing.

Suggested Citation

  • Meng Liu & Erik Brynjolfsson & Jason Dowlatabadi, 2018. "Do Digital Platforms Reduce Moral Hazard? The Case of Uber and Taxis," NBER Working Papers 25015, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25015
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    Cited by:

    1. Apostolos Filippas & John J. Horton & Richard J. Zeckhauser, 2020. "Owning, Using, and Renting: Some Simple Economics of the “Sharing Economy”," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(9), pages 4152-4172, September.
    2. Derrick Choe & Alexander Oettl & Rob Seamans, 2021. "What’s Driving Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Transportation Sector?," NBER Chapters, in: The Role of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth, pages 251-285, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Derrick Choe & Alexander Oettl & Robert Seamans, 2020. "What’s Driving Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Transport Sector?," NBER Working Papers 27284, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Leo Sleuwaegen & Peter M. Smith, 2022. "Who purchases cross-border? Individual and country level determinants of the decision to purchase cross-border in the European Single Market," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 749-785, September.
    5. Tang, Johnny Jiahao, 2020. "Individual heterogeneity and cultural attitudes in credence goods provision," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    6. Yanhui Wu & Feng Zhu, 2022. "Competition, Contracts, and Creativity: Evidence from Novel Writing in a Platform Market," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(12), pages 8613-8634, December.
    7. Mikko Hänninen & Anssi Smedlund, 2021. "Same Old Song with a Different Melody: The Paradox of Market Reach and Financial Performance on Digital Platforms," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(7), pages 1832-1868, November.
    8. Lam, Chungsang Tom & Liu, Meng & Hui, Xiang, 2021. "The geography of ridesharing: A case study on New York City," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    9. Wang, Hai & Yang, Hai, 2019. "Ridesourcing systems: A framework and review," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 122-155.
    10. Gianluigi Giustiziero, 2021. "Is the division of labor limited by the extent of the market? Opportunity cost theory with evidence from the real estate brokerage industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(7), pages 1344-1378, July.
    11. Erik Brynjolfsson & Xiang Hui & Meng Liu, 2019. "Does Machine Translation Affect International Trade? Evidence from a Large Digital Platform," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(12), pages 5449-5460, December.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D47 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Market Design
    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality
    • L91 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Transportation: General
    • M52 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Compensation and Compensation Methods and Their Effects

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