Featured
Report: Why the 21st Century Antitrust Act is Critical for New York Small Businesses
Katy Milani
May 19, 2022
In New York, rampant market power is endangering the economic dynamism that New York small businesses generate. State lawmakers have the opportunity to build a more level playing field for small businesses by passing the 21st Century Antitrust Act. Our report, published with New Yorkers for a Fair Economy, illustrates why this legislation will strengthen the economic vitality of communities across the state. READ MORE
ILSR Calls for New Merger Standards to Halt Concentration, Revive Local Economies
April 27, 2022
In 1982, the two agencies charged with overseeing America’s antimonopoly laws — the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission — radically weakened their policy governing mergers. Now the agencies are embarking on an overhaul of that policy. In this comment letter, ILSR details how current enforcement policy deviates from the anti-merger laws passed by Congress, describes the consequences, and outlines as set of recommendations for updating the policy to stop concentration and revive local economies. READ MORE
2022 Independent Business Survey: Top Challenges and Policy Priorities
ILSR
March 30, 2022
ILSR surveyed 908 small, independent businesses across across the country. We asked about the challenges they face and the policies they believe would improve the survival and success of independent businesses. READ MORE
Recent
NEW REPORT Endorsed by State Legislators Highlights Urgency of 21st Century Antitrust Act for New York Small Businesses
Reggie Rucker
May 19, 2022
A new report endorsed by state legislators highlights the urgency of the 21st Century Antitrust Act for New York small businesses. As high inflation rages on, dominant corporations threaten the ability for New York small businesses to compete. Legislature can reverse READ MORE
Statement from ILSR on Alvaro Bedoya’s Confirmation to the Federal Trade Commission
Reggie Rucker
May 12, 2022
In a statement, ILSR’s Co-director Stacy Mitchell responded to Alvaro Bedoya’s confirmation to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). READ MORE
Corporations Rake in Subsidies at Communities' Expense — Episode 148 of Building Local Power
Jess Del Fiacco
April 7, 2022
On this episode of the Building Local Power Podcast, Jess Del Fiacco is joined by Stacy Mitchell and Arlene Martínez who discuss the use of nondisclosure agreements, the acceleration of mega-deals during the pandemic, and what true economic development looks READ MORE
In Crain’s, NY Antitrust Bill Can Level the Playing Field for Small Business
Luke Gannon
April 4, 2022
In New York, dominant corporations are amassing unprecedented economic and political power and putting small businesses at risk. Katy Milani and Sue Warfield write in Crain’s that the proposed 21st Century Antitrust Act would level the playing field. READ MORE
2022 Independent Business Survey: Snapshot of Amazon Marketplace Sellers
ILSR
March 30, 2022
When we surveyed over 900 small, independent businesses across the U.S., 94 reported being third-party sellers on Amazon’s Marketplace. This is a snapshot of their responses. READ MORE
In The Forge: We Need a Popular Front to Overthrow Corporate Rule. Small Businesses Are Key.
March 24, 2022
In The Forge Stacy Mitchell argues that we are in unprecedented moment to organize a broad popular front of small businesses and working people to change the course of corporate concentration. READ MORE
Issue Brief: Handcuffed by the Courts
Ron Knox
March 8, 2022
Beginning in the late 1970s, a series of Supreme Court cases upended U.S. antitrust laws — laws that were once the linchpin of a comprehensive, democratic check on corporate power. This issue brief traverses the history and argues that Congress m READ MORE
In Financial Times: The Innovations We Lose if We Don’t Break Up Big Tech
Susan Holmberg
February 16, 2022
In the Financial Times, Susan Holmberg details the evidence showing that in their quest to maintain dominance tech giants are in fact killing new ideas, limiting new inventions and blocking new businesses from getting a foothold. READ MORE
Video: The Progressive Fight for Small Business w/ Rep. Pramila Jayapal, White House Advisor Tim Wu, and Leading Advocates
January 31, 2022
In January, ILSR hosted a conversation with key leaders and advocates including Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and White House Advisor Tim Wu to discuss the importance of small business to achieving a vibrant, equitable economy where all people and communities can READ MORE
Watch Now: Small Business's Big Moment
Kennedy Smith
January 20, 2022
On February 10th, 2022, ILSR and Main Street America hosted a conversation about how communities can use some of their federal American Rescue Plan Act allocations to support small business growth and development. The webinar was based on a new READ MORE
In-Depth
Report: Small Business's Big Moment
Kennedy Smith
January 24, 2022
One of the biggest challenges facing America’s towns and cities is leveling the playing field for small businesses. Our new report shows how civic leaders can use the American Rescue Plan to do just that, which will provide communities and local economies with lasting benefits for decades to come. READ MORE
Report: Amazon's Toll Road
December 1, 2021
Amazon is exploiting its position as a gatekeeper to impose steep and growing fees on the small businesses that must rely on its site to reach the online market, our new report finds. Even as these exorbitant fees bankrupt sellers, they are generating huge profits for Amazon, a fact that the tech giant conceals in its financial reports. These profits are not only the spoils of Amazon's monopoly power. They are the essential fuel that feeds its market-domination strategies. READ MORE
In The American Prospect: Why Congress Must End America’s Merger Free-for-All
Luke Gannon
October 28, 2021
Senior Research Ron Knox writes in The American Prospect about how decades of unchecked mergers has killed jobs, suppressed wages, and smothered independent businesses. With Lina Khan and DOJ nominee Jonathon Kanter, there is newfound hope to overhaul current merger laws. But Congress must act to end America’s merger free-for-all. READ MORE
Fact Sheet: How Amazon Exploits and Undermines Small Businesses, and Why Breaking It Up Would Revive American Entrepreneurship
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
Special Delivery: Our 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
In Wired: Big Music Needs to Be Broken Up to Save the Industry
Susan Holmberg
March 16, 2021
Ron Knox explains how consolidation in the music industry, like the pandemic, has been disastrous for artists. The monopolization of three chokepoints in the distribution of music — record labels, streaming, and live venues — is making it impossible for the broad “middle class” of artists to reach listeners. READ MORE
In The Nation, the Left Should Fight for Small Business
Susan Holmberg
December 2, 2020
It's hard to believe, but Democrats used to be the party of small business. In The Nation, Stacy Mitchell and Susan R. Holmberg argue that the left should once again embrace small business. Doing so is crucial to reversing inequality & rescuing democracy. It’s also key to winning Congress. READ MORE
Featured Audio and Video
Listen: How Epic Games' Acquisition of Bandcamp will Impact Independent Artists
Luke Gannon
March 10, 2022
Ron Knox was featured on The Grapevine, an Australian talk radio show, where he discussed Epic Games recent acquisition of Bandcamp and its effect on independent artists. READ MORE
Listen: How Corporate Mergers Undermine Labor Rights
Luke Gannon
March 3, 2022
Ron Knox was featured on The Heartland Labor Forum on KKFI, where he discussed his recent reporting detailing how corporate mergers helped create monopolies that dominate our economies and drive down workers’ wages. READ MORE
Building Local Power: Our Best Podcast Episodes on Antimonopoly
Ron Knox
January 25, 2022
We have generated a list of Building Local Power's “greatest hits” from our recent archives. These episodes capture crucial perspectives in our multi-pronged antitrust, small business, and racial justice movement.READ MORE
On Capitol Forum: Amazon Charges Steep Fees at the Expense of Small Businesses
Luke Gannon
January 5, 2022
Stacy Mitchell joined Teddy Downey on the Capitol Forum's podcast to discuss ILSR’s new Amazon’s Toll Road report, which finds that Amazon is exploiting its position as a gatekeeper to impose steep and growing fees on third-party sellers. Stacy explains thaREAD MORE
Is Amazon Good for Small Business?
Luke Gannon
November 30, 2021
Stacy Mitchell and business journalist Rana Foroohar teamed up for an Intelligence Squared debate to argue how Amazon is bad for small business.READ MORE