TY - JOUR
T1 - Conceptualising Digital Platforms in Developing Countries as Socio-Technical Transitions: A Multi-Level Perspective Analysis of EasyTaxi in Colombia
AU - Gomez-Morantes, Juan Erasmo
AU - Heeks, Richard
AU - Duncombe, Richard
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank reviewers for comments on earlier versions of this paper, including one presented and published in the proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 1-3 May 2019.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI).
PY - 2022/4/1
Y1 - 2022/4/1
N2 - Digital platforms play an increasing role across socio-economic sectors in developing countries yet development research to date on this topic has been limited and under-conceptualised. To help facilitate such research in future, this paper presents and applies the “multi-level perspective” as a framework to understand platforms in development as socio-technical transitions. Analysing a successful ride-hailing platform – EasyTaxi in Colombia – it finds what was originally a niche innovation then effected a socio-technical transition within Bogotá’s taxi regime. Although there are some issues in applying the framework, it is found to have a factoral, scalar and longitudinal holism that were lacking in existing conceptualisations within the literature on platforms and developing countries. The multi-level perspective offers insights into the process of innovation, rapidity of scaling, and development impacts relating to resource endowments, institutional formalisation, and shifts in power. The framework may therefore be a useful lens for development researchers seeking to better understand digital platforms.
AB - Digital platforms play an increasing role across socio-economic sectors in developing countries yet development research to date on this topic has been limited and under-conceptualised. To help facilitate such research in future, this paper presents and applies the “multi-level perspective” as a framework to understand platforms in development as socio-technical transitions. Analysing a successful ride-hailing platform – EasyTaxi in Colombia – it finds what was originally a niche innovation then effected a socio-technical transition within Bogotá’s taxi regime. Although there are some issues in applying the framework, it is found to have a factoral, scalar and longitudinal holism that were lacking in existing conceptualisations within the literature on platforms and developing countries. The multi-level perspective offers insights into the process of innovation, rapidity of scaling, and development impacts relating to resource endowments, institutional formalisation, and shifts in power. The framework may therefore be a useful lens for development researchers seeking to better understand digital platforms.
KW - Digital platform
KW - Multi-level perspective
KW - Ride-hailing
KW - Socio-technical transitions
UR - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3wUIMa1vSo
U2 - 10.1057/s41287-021-00409-w
DO - 10.1057/s41287-021-00409-w
M3 - Article
SN - 0957-8811
VL - 34
SP - 978
EP - 1002
JO - European Journal of Development Research
JF - European Journal of Development Research
IS - 2
ER -