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From an economic standpoint if the winner is substantially more effective, the cost of producing the product is high, and the marginal costs of servicing additional users are small the system will end up as winner takes all. This is common in the software, sports and entertainment industries.

Because service like Lyft depends on more than just the software to provide the end service so the product is not substantially better. For the most part the drivers are also working for the competition, the time to get to the destination, and the overall cost will be similar. At some level the network effect is part of both the barrier to entry, and the quality/value of the product but it is not clear if this is enough to end up on top of a winner take all market.



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