Graduation Year

2025

Date of Submission

12-2024

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Economics

Reader 1

Eric Helland

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Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2024 Leonora Willett

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of Uber's entry into U.S. cities on federal court case filings, particularly focusing on how this disruptive platform influenced litigation patterns and regulatory responses. My analysis seeks to understand whether Uber’s entry into cities significantly affected the frequency and types of legal cases filed, including personal injury, contract disputes, and labor claims. Using an event study model and federal court data from the Federal Judicial Center spanning 2009 to 2023, my analysis evaluates changes in case filings before and after Uber's entry. Additionally, I analyze the impact of city-level regulations in five major cities on case filings using a difference-in-difference model. My findings reveal a notable decrease of civil rights cases filed in New York City and an increase in personal injury cases filed in San Francisco and Austin. These results highlight the broader implications of disruptive technologies on traditional markets and legal frameworks. My analysis emphasizes the importance of developing flexible regulatory frameworks for new technologies that strike a balance between fostering innovation and protecting established industries.

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