, Columnist
Britain Has a Few Ideas About Uber
Theresa May might struggle to pass new gig economy measures, but at least she's looking.
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It's easy to poke fun at Britain's government dysfunction. But there's at least one policy area where it's having a sophisticated debate with global implications: how to regulate "gig economy" companies such as Uber Technologies Inc. and Deliveroo so they don't exploit workers or skimp on taxes.
Working out new rules for companies that use smartphones to connect buyers and sellers is laudable, if devilishly difficult. On Tuesday, a Theresa May-commissioned panel released its ideas for how to do so. Some recommendations are smart, reflecting an honest attempt to balance flexible working with protecting citizens. Whether a weakened prime minister can pass any of this into law is another question. But at least she's looking at it.