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France: Uber’s victory over taxis is seen as sign of progress

By  |  February 9, 2016

France has nothing to fear from the “Uberisation” of its economy, it’s just a sign of progress and hope,” writes Martin Dixon, a director of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce.

This isn’t about about why taxis are terrible and Uber is great, it is about how the consumer is king even in France and how real innovation takes off just as quickly here as it does elsewhere.

Let me explain. The Paris taxi industry has for a long time been protected cash cow, lovingly tended by one large organization making millions every year out of the status quo.

To anyone armed with a little spare time and the internet, it’s easy to find out why the taxi monopoly in Paris has lasted so long. “Friends in high places” doesn’t even come close to describing it.

Before Uber et al however, the reality was that whatever consumers thought of the system, they were forced to accept it. Tourists complained, Parisians screamed and yet no transmission mechanism existed to translate the will of the consumer into meaningful change.

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