FEATURES
America’s Monopoly Problem
JAN. 19, 2021
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Monopoly power in the U.S. has reached catastrophic levels, affecting every corner of our economy and society. While this crisis is gaining more attention, particularly in the tech industry, there is much more to understand about how it affects our lives. This year, ILSR is publishing a series of reports on how monopoly manifests in a range of industries, and how its power impacts our economic well-being, perpetuates our racial divisions, and hinders our ability to confront our climate crisis.
The first in the series, How Waste Monopolies are Choking Environmental Solutions, and What We Can Do About It, details how landfill and garbage monopolies are raising costs and driving environmental injustice, and what we can do about it. Read the report.
Our recently released second report, How Big Utilities Are Impeding Clean Energy, and What We Can Do About It, describes how big utilities are impeding the growth of renewable power, and the steps states and local communities can take to push back. Read the report.
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FEATURES
RON KNOX | DEC. 14, 2020
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 After more than a year investigating potential monopoly power among tech companies, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust this fall released a 470 page historic report calling for Congress to take action to restore open markets and economic democracy online.
We’ve partnered with the Open Markets Institute to highlight the committee’s findings about the Amazon monopoly, and its recommendations for how Congress can liberate the economy from Amazon’s stranglehold.
Read Our Explainer.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
- Join Stacy Mitchell on January 28th when she gives the keynote address at the Maine Downtown Center’s Virtual Annual Awards and Celebration. Register Here.
- Stacy is also speaking at the Good Business Summit, which takes place February 24th & 25th and is hosted by Lowcountry Local First. Register Here.
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WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO
- Stacy Mitchell joined John Fugelsang on SiriusXM’s "Tell Me Everything." They talked about why the left should embrace its New Deal roots and fight for small business.
- Stacy spoke to Quartz about what legislators need to do to curb corporate power. “What you don’t want is the Dodd-Frank of antitrust.”
- Our team has been busy responding to media about the federal and state actions to break up Facebook. Stacy told Morning Consult that “antitrust enforcement is finally waking up from the dead. This is likely just the beginning of a revival of U.S. anti-monopoly policy.” Ron Knox spoke to BBC World News, and Shaoul wrote in The Guardian, with Matt Stoller, that this action is long overdue.
- Ron also spoke to The Baffler about Amazon’s power, which is “becom[ing] this all powerful gatekeeper to the marketplace, for what should be a process governed by democracy.”
- In The New Republic, Zephyr Teachout cited our Amazon research in highlighting Biden’s opportunity to be the first trust busting president in 50 years. The Wall Street Journal also cited our Amazon’s Monopoly Tollbooth report.
- Kennedy Smith was on WBEZ to discuss the new COVID-19 stimulus deal and relief for small businesses.
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ICYMI
In our new Federal Policy report, we lay out more than 20 policy recommendations — including many steps that the Biden Administration can take on its own, plus legislation that Congress should move. Read the report.
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NEWS STORIES WE'RE FOLLOWING
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From informing policymakers to shaping media coverage, ILSR's research is
making an impact. Please help us work to create an economy that's more
competitive, equitable, and prosperous by making a donation today.
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