A new article has been published by Ronald Sáenz-Leandro and Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol, where they discuss the politics of policy change in platform capitalism, focusing on ride-hailing platforms like Uber. The study synthesizes findings from 26 scholarly works, examining how platform power, institutional frameworks, political dynamics, and narratives intersect to shape governance and regulation in diverse urban contexts. It reveals that while ride-hailing services disrupt traditional industries, the regulatory responses depend heavily on local institutions, stakeholder mobilization, and historical legacies.
The authors emphasize the need for more comparative research, particularly from the Global South, to better understand the global dimensions of platform capitalism. This work contributes to the growing discourse on balancing innovation with public interest in the gig economy. For a comprehensive dive into these dynamics, you can read the full article here.