The Uber Economy Requires a New Category of Worker • Hacker News Board

Re: The Uber Economy Requires a New Category of Worker

#41

Post by onion2k » Fri, Jul 10, 2015, 1:34 PM UTC

natrius wrote: post #39

onion2k wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One difference would be that Uber wouldn't be taking a 20% cut of the money involved. That 20% is what people believe pays for the benefits Uber ought to be providing.

That surplus wouldn't go entirely to the driver. Competition would drive down prices. Drivers will make more, but not the whole 20%.

Competition would drive down prices.

I not sure that's true. The equilibrium price could actually be higher than where the market rate is now. Uber, Lyft, etc are subsidising their products with massive amounts of venture money in order to increase their market share - if they were removed from the equation it's entirely possible that drivers would get a higher fare and the cut Uber takes.

Re: The Uber Economy Requires a New Category of Worker

#42

Post by uptown » Fri, Jul 10, 2015, 3:01 PM UTC

dylanjermiah wrote: post #28

noja wrote: post #4

The more I learn about Uber, the less I want an Uber Economy.

Talk to the actual drivers, not the press.

This is a good read from a driver's perspective:

http://citypaper.net/uberdriver/

Re: The Uber Economy Requires a New Category of Worker

#43

Post by natrius » Fri, Jul 10, 2015, 3:22 PM UTC

onion2k wrote: post #41

natrius wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That surplus wouldn't go entirely to the driver. Competition would drive down prices. Drivers will make more, but not the whole 20%.

Competition would drive down prices. I not sure that's true. The equilibrium price could actually be higher than where the market rate is now. Uber, Lyft, etc are subsidising their products with massive amounts of venture money in order to increase their market share - if they were removed from the equation it's entirely possible that drivers would get a higher fare and the cut Uber takes.

Isn't that having it both ways? Either Uber takes a 20% cut, or it's taking less than that to lower fares. I don't have facts, but I don't think Uber is paying its drivers more than the fares it collects over a significant period of time in established markets.

Re: The Uber Economy Requires a New Category of Worker

#44

Post by halviti » Fri, Jul 10, 2015, 3:30 PM UTC

deegles wrote: post #8

I don't see anyone besides Uber winning in the Uber economy. It's right in the name. Forcing Uber and other ride-sharing companies to classify their resources as employees will only give them further incentive to automate. Once that happens (5 years, 10 max) it will be a moot point how a driver would be classified. Very few people wake up in the morning and say "Gee, I'm so excited to drive for Uber today! I don't ne…

"Gee, I'm so excited to drive for Uber today! I don't need the extra money, I just love it!"

I've never taken an uber, but I've met many uber drivers, and I've actually heard this several times.

It's not like they are being forced to work, and many like the random interaction with people better than sitting at home.

I know one retired guy that drives for Uber on occasion. He sold his family business to his son and has more money than I wold know what to do with, but drives Uber just for fun.

Anyway, I have no real point, but these people exist.

Re: The Uber Economy Requires a New Category of Worker

#45

Post by omonra » Fri, Jul 10, 2015, 6:09 PM UTC

collyw wrote: post #32

omonra wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What % of jobs do you think people would do even if they didn't need the money?

I spoke with an old friend from university recently. Apparently his younger brother (also at university with us in the late 90's) struck it lucky with a company he helped start up, and is now rich enough that he doesn't need to work. He is planning on consulting part time, as he wants something to fill his days (other than just kayaking - we all met through the university kayak club).

Sure - I know a guy who retired from trading in mid 40s and is now a math teacher because he likes that. But if our society relied on people working because they chose to (as opposed to needed to) we probably wouldn't have one.

That's one thought experiment I conduct - imagine we find out that a comet is going to approach Earth in 6 months. My main problem is us having to deal with 6 months of chaos (since nobody will be working) rather than instant annihilation.

Re: The Uber Economy Requires a New Category of Worker

#46

Post by fineman » Sun, Jul 12, 2015, 1:43 AM UTC

bryanlarsen wrote: post #36

dylanjermiah wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People work for money, not a shocking revelation. >'Tiny drip of income into the drivers wallets' 80% goes to drivers.

80% of revenue and 99.9% of the expenses go to the drivers. So it's quite probable that Uber gets most of the profits.

Where's your post analyzing taxi driver wages? Or server wages.

Because bosses always get most of the profits.

Re: The Uber Economy Requires a New Category of Worker

#47

Post by fineman » Sun, Jul 12, 2015, 2:01 AM UTC

acd wrote: post #30

Another pets.com I do not understand what is so revolutionary about Uber especially in countries which as good Taxi companies. For me Uber is a hyped glorified black taxi. $50 billion valuation for a taxi company common!

Yeah, the valuation is all in the trademark. "New Economy". There's nothing preventing Uber2 from taking over (except a big ugly pink mustache.)

But the customer service of Uber/etc is night and day different than Taxis. There's no question the takeover will happen.

Taxi drivers and taxi companies seem to see medallions as a license to cheat and steal. Good riddance.