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Statement from Institute for Local Self-Reliance on Antitrust Legislation Unveiled in the U.S. Senate Today  

Statement from Institute for Local Self-Reliance on Antitrust Legislation Unveiled in the U.S. Senate Today  

Virgil McDill

October 14, 2021

The following statement was issued by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, in response to legislation released today in the United States Senate aimed at addressing the concentrated corporate power of the Big Tech companies.   READ MORE


Listen: Big Music Should Be On The Antitrust Agenda

Listen: Big Music Should Be On The Antitrust Agenda

Luke Gannon

October 5, 2021

Ron Knox joined WVON’s The Morning Show to jam about monopoly power in the music industry, which is preventing independent streaming platforms from competing and hurting artists.  READ MORE


Chuck Marohn Explains What’s Wrong With America’s Roads — Episode 136 of Building Local Power

Chuck Marohn Explains What's Wrong With America's Roads — Episode 136 of Building Local Power

Jess Del Fiacco

September 30, 2021

Host Jess Del Fiacco and ILSR Co-Director Stacy Mitchell interview Chuck Marohn, President of Strong Towns. Chuck is also the author of the new book Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town, which explores what conventional transportation planning is costing our communities.   READ MORE


Watch: New Wave of Federal Recovery Funds Can Rebuild Main Street

Watch: New Wave of Federal Recovery Funds Can Rebuild Main Street

Susan Holmberg

September 13, 2021

At the Future Cities conference, ILSR Senior Researcher Kennedy Smith moderated a panel discussion about how cities can leverage federal recovery funds to revitalize their commercial districts, create more small businesses, and reduce racial and economic inequality.  READ MORE


Statement Regarding D.C. Attorney General Racine’s Amended Antitrust Complaint Against Amazon

Statement Regarding D.C. Attorney General Racine’s Amended Antitrust Complaint Against Amazon

Virgil McDill

September 13, 2021

This statement was issued by ILSR Co-Director Stacy Mitchell in response to new amendments to an antitrust complaint filed against Amazon by D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine.  READ MORE


Recent

Hardware Group Says Big Tech Bills are an Urgent Opportunity for Small Businesses

Hardware Group Says Big Tech Bills are an Urgent Opportunity for Small Businesses

Susan Holmberg

August 5, 2021

Co-Director Stacy Mitchell joined Dan Tratensek — of the North American Hardware and Paint Association on the association’s podcast — about how incredible the current moment is for small business, both in Washington and at the local level. We have come   READ MORE


In Governing: New Opportunities for Cities to Create Affordable Space for Small Business

In Governing: New Opportunities for Cities to Create Affordable Space for Small Business

Kennedy Smith

July 28, 2021

Small businesses need affordable commercial space more than ever. Federal stimulus funds offer the chance for local governments to help fill that need. In Governing, ILSR Senior Researcher Kennedy Smith and Ryan Coonerty discuss this new opportunity for cities and  READ MORE


Biden’s Executive Order Takes Aim at Monopoly Power on Behalf of Small Businesses, Farmers, and Workers

Biden’s Executive Order Takes Aim at Monopoly Power on Behalf of Small Businesses, Farmers, and Workers

Ron Knox

July 26, 2021

President Biden just signed a sweeping Executive Order aimed at undoing concentrated corporate control and ending decades of consolidation throughout our economy. The order’s provisions reflect many of the specific issues and priorities that ILSR has been working to advance. S  READ MORE


Congressional Testimony: How Concentrated Corporate Power Undermines Shared Prosperity

Congressional Testimony: How Concentrated Corporate Power Undermines Shared Prosperity

Katy Milani

July 14, 2021

ILSR Co-Director Stacy Mitchell testified before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee on Wednesday, July 14th. She spoke about how the U.S. has abandoned its antimonopoly policies, which has undermined independent businesses and the vital role they play in our  READ MORE


Statement: Biden Repudiates Decades of Pro-Monopoly Policies and Takes a Major Step Toward Restoring Fair Markets for Small Businesses, Farmers, and Workers

Statement: Biden Repudiates Decades of Pro-Monopoly Policies and Takes a Major Step Toward Restoring Fair Markets for Small Businesses, Farmers, and Workers

Virgil McDill

July 9, 2021

In today’s speech and executive order, President Biden forcefully rebuked the destructive antitrust framework that has allowed monopoly power to grow unchecked for more than 40 years. The order includes more than 70 specific provisions, many of which reflect ILSR’s lon  READ MORE


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In-Depth

Special Delivery: Our New Report Shows How Local Delivery Services are Superior to the Big Apps

Special Delivery: Our New Report Shows How Local Delivery Services are Superior to the Big Apps

Susan Holmberg

May 25, 2021

Unlike the predatory Wall Street-backed apps, local delivery services charge lower fees, support restaurants, keep wealth in the community, and demonstrate that when it comes to food delivery, local delivery models are better and more efficient.  READ MORE


Rebuilding Small Business for a Robust Recovery: A Federal Policy Agenda

Rebuilding Small Business for a Robust Recovery: A Federal Policy Agenda

Stacy Mitchell

December 3, 2020

In this policy brief, we argue that moving aggressively to rebuild small, independent businesses and reverse the concentration of corporate power would produce a more vigorous, equitable, and stable recovery. We lay out two dozen policy recommendations across a 6-point agenda to enable independent businesses to weather the pandemic and thrive and grow in its aftermath.  READ MORE


Policy Brief: Local and State Governments Have Marshalled $9.27 Billion for Small Business Relief

Policy Brief: Local and State Governments Have Marshalled $9.27 Billion for Small Business Relief

Kennedy Smith

October 19, 2020

Our research has found that cities, counties, states, and community organizations have established more than 800 programs to provide financial assistance to small businesses in the wake of the pandemic. These programs have deployed more than $9.27 billion in grants and loans. Yet the funds are running out. Congress should address the unprecedented crisis facing small business by quickly providing the resources local governments need to do this important work.  READ MORE


Report: 26 Actions Local Leaders Can Take to Help Small Businesses Weather the Pandemic

Report: 26 Actions Local Leaders Can Take to Help Small Businesses Weather the Pandemic

Kennedy Smith

July 29, 2020

ILSR's latest report describes 26 actions that community leaders — including local governments, local business groups, nonprofit organizations, business improvement districts, and other entities — can adopt to help small businesses weather the crisis.  READ MORE


Report: Amazon’s Monopoly Tollbooth

Report: Amazon's Monopoly Tollbooth

Stacy Mitchell

July 28, 2020

Amazon’s dominance of online retail means that hundreds of thousands of small businesses must rely on its site to reach customers. In this report, we find that Amazon is exploiting its gatekeeper power to extract a growing cut of the revenue earned by these sellers. It's doing this by imposing ever-larger fees on them. This tactic is often dooming their businesses. It's also enabling Amazon to entrench its monopoly grip on e-commerce, while expanding its dominance into logistics and advertising.  READ MORE


Featured Audio and Video

Beyond Big Tech: Monopoly Power & Our Democracy — Episode 129 of Building Local Power

Beyond Big Tech: Monopoly Power & Our Democracy — Episode 129 of Building Local Power

Jess Del Fiacco

June 22, 2021

On this episode of Building Local Power, ILSR's John Farrell, Stacy Mitchell, and Christopher MitcheREAD MORE


Centering Racial Justice in the Antimonopoly Fight — Episode 128 of Building Local Power

Centering Racial Justice in the Antimonopoly Fight — Episode 128 of Building Local Power

Jess Del Fiacco

June 10, 2021

Host Jess Del Fiacco and ILSR Co-Director Stacy Mitchell are joined by Solana Rice and Jeremie GreerREAD MORE


Listen to Stacy Mitchell on WBUR’s The Prime Effect

Listen to Stacy Mitchell on WBUR's The Prime Effect

Susan Holmberg

June 10, 2021

Stacy Mitchell was the featured guest on WBUR’s On Point for their series on Amazon. She talked abouREAD MORE


A Make or Break Moment for Local Solutions — Episode 126 of Building Local Power

A Make or Break Moment for Local Solutions — Episode 126 of Building Local Power

Jess Del Fiacco

May 13, 2021

In this episode of Building Local Power, host Jess Del Fiacco is joined by three ILSR colleagues to READ MORE


The Key to Stopping Amazon? Think Like a Citizen

The Key to Stopping Amazon? Think Like a Citizen

Susan Holmberg

May 7, 2021

Stacy Mitchell joined Baratunde Thurston on his “How to Citizen with Baratunde” podcast to talk abouREAD MORE


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