[bjl]

> You will find no practical solution to this problem other than starving the beast (decentralizing power away from government)

All this will lead to is dictatorship by the wealthy. I much prefer our current system, as flawed as it is, to corporate fascism.

[bostonscott]

Disagree. It is our current system, which increasingly empowers opportunists over capitalists, that will create "corporate fascism."

Current system:

1) Big companies pay minimal or negative taxes. Small companies are taxed at the individual rate (and increasing). If Company A pays 0% at top bracket, and Company B pays 50%, Company B is unlikely to out-compete Company A.

Read: our tax system creates "monopolies."

2) Our current system allows big companies to write or shape gov regulations, making compliance only possible for the largest companies. Prohibiting health ins cos from selling across state lines is an example.

Read: overreaching laws and regulations create "monopolies."

3) Our current system provides a safety net to large companies, who have leveraged #1 and #2 above in order to become "systemic." This gives them a greater tolerance for risk, "counterbalancing" regulations notwithstanding.

Read: death spiral

Want to fight "corporate fascism?"

Shrink a "corporate fascist's" source of power.

Their power comes not from creating superior products or services, and delivering these at a superior price. It comes from their ability to manipulate corrupt or dumb politicians, bureaucrats, and voters.

Again, you will find no practical solution to this problem other than starving the beast.

[sharemywin]

1. Competition drives down prices and profits.

2. Restated, monopolies earn more short term profits than companies in a competitive market.

3. stock investors look to maximize short term profits.

4. stock investors are offering a premium for monopolistic companies.

5. The stock market is rewarding this behavior without government intervention.

"starving the beast" will just feed another beast.

[bostonscott]

1. Half true. Competition drives down prices, but not necessarily profits. For example, you can lower your prices using innovation, by achieving economies of scale, etc.

2. Over long-term, probably true. In short-term, not true. Often monopolies are formed and initially sustained by keeping prices aggressively low.

3. If you said stock investors look to maximize profits, i'd agree. Short-term? Not necessarily. Value investors like Warren Buffet are not motivated by short-term profits.

4. Stock investors offer a premium for profitable companies who can protect themselves against "threats." Government protection is one such way, I guess. Building sustainable competitive advantage is another (merit-based).

5. Your thesis rests on a premise that the government doesn't intervene in the stock market? Really? Have you heard of quantitative easing?

If you don't like the fact that big companies have a lot of power, I suggest you spend time thinking about why they have so much power, before you randomly proscribe solutions.

[sharemywin]

I'm not arguing that bad government regulations and rules don't create monopolies, but monopolies are also created through natural means and that still doesn't change my general premise.

stock investors are offering a premium for monopolistic companies and rational companies management will combine companies to eventually become a monopoly to maximize profits and stockholder value.

My basic argument is the only reason companies don't more aggressively try to become monopolies is because government regulation(anti-trust laws) deter it.

Am I arguing for more corporate welfare absolutely not. Am I arguing for more regulation generally no. more effective regulation yes. More enforcement of current regulation yes. Both of which require more qualified effective people, which usually involves investment.

For having such a good understanding of market economic your solution is a little half baked.

The problem with this country everyone wants more or less taxes when the focus should be on more effective, transparent use of the countries funds.

There are somethings you can't just throw money at and it will fix it. Well, that's true in the negative as well.

[bostonscott]

Can you provide an example of such a monopoly, that you contend has been created through "natural means?"

It's a sincere question. I can't think of a single example.

[sharemywin]

Depends on what you mean. Government defines property so just by how you define property you can change what "natural" means.

Controlling supply or distribution, network effects are natural ways to get to a monopoly.

[baursak]

Any actor that gets powerful enough to influence the government will seek to influence the government to its advantage, such as passing new regulations to prevent competition. If the government is too weak to be of any use the powerful corporate actor, then that corporation is now a de-facto government, and the "government" is merely a rubber stamping government by name only.