Featured

New Report: Small Business’s Big Moment

New 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


Upcoming Event: The Progressive Fight for Small Business w/ Rep. Pramila Jayapal, White House Advisor Tim Wu, and Leading Advocates

Upcoming Event: The Progressive Fight for Small Business w/ Rep. Pramila Jayapal, White House Advisor Tim Wu, and Leading Advocates

Stacy Mitchell

January 14, 2022

Join ILSR for a conversation with Congresswoman Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and other leading policymakers, experts, and advocates to discuss the importance of small business to achieving a vibrant, equitable economy where all people and communities can thrive.   READ MORE


Recent

Building Local Power: Our Best Podcast Episodes on Antimonopoly

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


Register Now: Small Business’s Big Moment

Register Now: Small Business's Big Moment

Kennedy Smith

January 20, 2022

Join us Feb. 10th for "Small Business's Big Moment". The webinar is based on a new report by ILSR that outlines a dozen ideas for using American Rescue Plan Act money to cultivate and support small businesses.  READ MORE


ILSR Statement on the American Innovation and Choice Online Act Passing Out of the Senate

ILSR Statement on the American Innovation and Choice Online Act Passing Out of the Senate

Jess Del Fiacco

January 20, 2022

A statement from ILSR Co-Director Stacy Mitchell on the American Innovation and Choice Online Act.  READ MORE


How Reining in Big Tech will Save Small Businesses

How Reining in Big Tech will Save Small Businesses

Luke Gannon

January 6, 2022

Senior Policy Advocate Katy Milani writes for Phoenix's Eculeus newspaper group on how local businesses create a strong community, offer quality career opportunities, and cultivate economic stability.   READ MORE


On Capitol Forum: Amazon Charges Steep Fees at the Expense of Small Businesses

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 tha  READ MORE


ILSR Comment Letter Raises Concerns about Big Tech’s Expansion into Finance

ILSR Comment Letter Raises Concerns about Big Tech’s Expansion into Finance

Katy Milani

December 16, 2021

In a comment letter to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, ILSR raised several areas of concern that the agency should examine as part of its inquiry Into Big Tech payment platforms.  READ MORE


New Report: Amazon’s Toll Road

New Report: Amazon's Toll Road

Stacy Mitchell

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,  READ MORE


Is Amazon Good for Small Business?

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


ILSR Joins New York Labor Unions, Small Businesses, and Community Organizations to Form New Coalition Calling for Legislation to Combat Corporate Power in NY

ILSR Joins New York Labor Unions, Small Businesses, and Community Organizations to Form New Coalition Calling for Legislation to Combat Corporate Power in NY

Virgil McDill

November 10, 2021

"By establishing clear rules to stop dominant corporations from abusing their power, this legislation will safeguard democracy and create new vitality in struggling rural and urban areas alike," said ILSR's Stacy Mitchell.  READ MORE


In The American Prospect: Why Congress Must End America’s Merger Free-for-All

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  READ MORE


On Pitchfork Economics: How Walmart Gutted Communities

On Pitchfork Economics: How Walmart Gutted Communities

Luke Gannon

October 28, 2021

Stacy Mitchell joins Pitchfork Economics to explain how policies drove the rise of Walmart and Amazon, and the urgency of the antitrust movement.  READ MORE


In-Depth

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

After decades of a misguided approach to antitrust policy, Washington has a new antimonopoly fervor, writes Senior Researcher Ron Knox.  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


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

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

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

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: 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 transportationREAD 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


Main Street’s Missing Ingredient: Small Scale Manufacturing — Episode 133 of Building Local Power

Main Street's Missing Ingredient: Small Scale Manufacturing — Episode 133 of Building Local Power

Jess Del Fiacco

August 19, 2021

Host Jess Del Fiacco, ILSR Co-Director Stacy Mitchell, and Senior Researcher Kennedy Smith are joined by Ilana Preuss, the founder of Recast City, a firm that works with city officials and local leaders to integrate space for small manufacturers intoREAD 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 Greer of Liberation in a Generation. They discuss their recent publication Anti-Monopoly Activism: Reclaiming Power through Racial Justice. READ MORE


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