The politics of Uber in Quebec. A discursive institutionalist study

Abstract

I N T RODUC T ION"Ask forgiveness, not permission" and "move fast and break things." These mantras have guided the giants of digital capitalism in their unprecedented expansion in our economies to the point that they have become "more powerful than nation states" (Lu, 2020). It is, therefore, unsurprising that digital platforms are significantly impacting our economies in various ways. 1 They are disrupting economic sectors and the regulatory regimes that govern them.The case of Uber is revealing in that regard because it embodies the rise and power of platform economies and it sets the pattern for different economic sectors (Seidl, 2020). In just a few years, it turned the taxi industry upside down in several countries by encouraging micro-entrepreneurs to work via its digital platform, which "puts them in touch" with consumers (Thelen, 2018). However, Uber's model is largely based on evading existing regulatory frameworks (Dubal, 2017;Harding et al., 2016;Prassl, 2018). It uses a variety of tactics such as breaking the law, taking advantage of regulatory gray areas (Pollman & Barry, 2017), and entering into a "push-and-pull" process with governments-a "contentious compliance" which consists of adapting existing regulations while continuing to challenge them (Valdez, 2021). Acting as a "regulatory entrepreneur," Uber knows how to develop a vision of change for an entire industry (Pollman & Barry, 2017). It creates a problem (the failure of taxi regulations), proposes a solution (based on its business model), then provokes a crisis by threatening to leave 1

Politics of on‐demand food delivery: Policy design and the power of algorithms

“…Other research on the platform economy supports this view (cf. Coiquaud & Morissette, 2022; Seidl, 2022; Thelen, 2018). We agree with their analyses; yet it is equally important to acknowledge that in labor markets where regulations define active economic contributions in certain terms, food couriers could be seen as deviating from societal expectations.…”

“…This is because platform owners have successfully manipulated institutional politics through discourse and framing (cf. Coiquaud & Morissette, 2022; Seidl, 2022). Particularly relevant here is how depiction of freelancers, gig workers, and contractors who work for the platform economy as “non‐employees” enable platform companies to disrupt status and penetrate the market (Coiquaud & Morissette, 2022; Seidl, 2022; Thelen, 2018).…”

“…Coiquaud & Morissette, 2022; Seidl, 2022). Particularly relevant here is how depiction of freelancers, gig workers, and contractors who work for the platform economy as “non‐employees” enable platform companies to disrupt status and penetrate the market (Coiquaud & Morissette, 2022; Seidl, 2022; Thelen, 2018). Prassl (2018) tells us that this discursive breakthrough rests on the success of the narrative that creates a false divide between employment status and flexible work, emphasizing the value of the latter in our “Fourth Industrial Revolution” (Schwab, 2017).…”

Impact of corporate social responsibility on brand trust and brand loyalty: Case of Uber

“…User safety is another CSR area of Uber; safety is related to consumer dissonance and physical, psychological, and economic aspects (Coiquaud & Morissette, 2022;Hayes et al, 2018;Mousavi et al, 2022;Praesri et al, 2022). Malos et al (2018) and Yu, Park, and Hyun (2021) argued that employee status at Uber is considered a main piece of CSR because the drivers' welfare (e.g., insurance, working hours, and status) could be undermined by management.…”

“…Next, scholars contend that user privacy refers to the potential malicious collection of personal information for platform business services because information is the crux of business (Hayes et al, 2018; Lee, Chan, et al, 2018; Lee, Lee, & Moon, 2018). User safety is another CSR area of Uber; safety is related to consumer dissonance and physical, psychological, and economic aspects (Coiquaud & Morissette, 2022; Hayes et al, 2018; Mousavi et al, 2022; Praesri et al, 2022). Malos et al (2018) and Yu, Park, and Hyun (2021) argued that employee status at Uber is considered a main piece of CSR because the drivers' welfare (e.g., insurance, working hours, and status) could be undermined by management.…”