How do government regulations and policies respond to the growing online-enabled transportation service (OETS) in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Taiwan?

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the dynamic context of the sharing economy in the transportation sector. This paper looks into the development of government regulations on the growing business of transportation network companies in Indonesia, the Philippines (represented as middle-income countries) and Taiwan (high-income country). How do government regulations and policies respond to the growing online-enabled transportation service (OETS) in Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan?Design/methodology/approachThis study is qualitative-comparative research. Data on the transportation sector of each country have been gathered from reputable online sources.FindingsAuthors found evidence that the policy responses made by the Governments of Indonesia, Philippines and Taiwan to the sharing economy in the transportation sector are incremental and trial-error based policies.Research limitationsThis paper has not addressed the policy issues’ relationship between driver and platform companies.Practical implicationsThe future of the relationship between sharing firms and local governments suggests that the focus should be on stronger consumer protections, deeper economic redistribution and achievement of other policy aims (Rauch and Schleicher, 2015).Originality/valueThis is a comparative study on different levels of economy, particularly between low- or middle-income and high-income country.