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In Governing: An Opportunity for Long-Term, Equitable Local Economic Vitality

In Governing: An Opportunity for Long-Term, Equitable Local Economic Vitality

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 towns to foster a built environment that supports local economies.  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 signed a sweeping Executive Order aimed at undoing concentrated corporate control and ending decades of consolidation throughout our economy. See our writeup on the details of this historic move.  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 economy and democracy.  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 long-standing work and priorities. It marks a major turning point.  READ MORE


In The Washington Post: How Washington Got Back Into Trustbusting

In The Washington Post: How Washington Got Back Into Trustbusting

Susan Holmberg

June 25, 2021

We are at a pivotal moment in the antimonopoly movement. Lina Khan was recently named FTC chair and a Congressional committee is sending to the House floor six antitrust bills that strike at the heart of Big Tech's predatory power. After decades of a misguided approach to antitrust policy, Washington has a new antimonopoly fervor, writes Senior Researcher Ron Knox in The Washington Post.  READ MORE


Recent

Statement on the House Judiciary Committee’s Vote Approving Legislation to Break Up and Rein In Big Tech

Statement on the House Judiciary Committee’s Vote Approving Legislation to Break Up and Rein In Big Tech

Virgil McDill

June 24, 2021

"There’s no doubt in my mind that American democracy will ultimately prevail over the outsized power of Big Tech," said ILSR Co-Director Stacy Mitchell. "Today’s bipartisan vote was a clear sign of the gathering momentum to break up Amazon and the  READ MORE


Fact Sheet: Why the “Ending Platform Monopolies Act” is Essential Reform

Fact Sheet: Why the "Ending Platform Monopolies Act" is Essential Reform

Stacy Mitchell

June 21, 2021

Our latest fact sheet shows that lawmakers cannot achieve their aim of restoring competition to our online markets without passing the structural separation bill.    READ MORE


Listen to Ron Knox on Capitol Forum’s Podcast

Listen to Ron Knox on Capitol Forum's Podcast

Susan Holmberg

June 20, 2021

Senior Research Ron Knox was the featured guest on Capitol Forum's podcast, Second Request. They chatted about music industry monopolies and how to restore the music industry's middle class.  READ MORE


In The New York Times: How a Labor & Small Business Alliance Could Rebuild the Middle Class

In The New York Times: How a Labor & Small Business Alliance Could Rebuild the Middle Class

Susan Holmberg

June 18, 2021

Labor and small business were once natural allies in a New Deal coalition that backed muscular policies to limit corporate power and build a thriving middle class. A growing antimonopoly movement is rekindling this alliance, writes Stacy Mitchell in The New   READ MORE


Sen. Klobuchar Calls for Breakups in Town Hall Co-Hosted by Small Business Rising

Sen. Klobuchar Calls for Breakups in Town Hall Co-Hosted by Small Business Rising

Hannah Henderson-Charnow

June 17, 2021

"Unless you force some divestiture of assets, [monopolies are] going to just keep going the way they are... Yes, breakup[s have] to be on the table when it comes to these companies," Senator Klobuchar at a town hall event co-hosted  READ MORE


Fact Sheet: How Amazon Exploits and Undermines Small Businesses, and Why Breaking It Up Would Revive American Entrepreneurship

Fact Sheet: How Amazon Exploits and Undermines Small Businesses, and Why Breaking It Up Would Revive American Entrepreneurship

Stacy Mitchell

June 16, 2021

In splashy campaigns and lobbying at the Capitol, Amazon claims that it has “a mutually beneficial relationship” with the small businesses that depend on its platform. This fact sheet tells the real story, and explains what Congress needs to do.  READ 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 about Amazon's power, the inner workings of Amazon’s online marketplace, and how the tech giant preys on third-party sellers.  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


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


Keeping NYC Land Out of Corporate Hands — Episode 118 of Building Local Power

Keeping NYC Land Out of Corporate Hands — Episode 118 of Building Local Power

Jess Del Fiacco

March 21, 2021

Host Jess Del Fiacco and ILSR Co-Director Stacy Mitchell are joined by Brad Lander, who represents BREAD MORE


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