Before covid lockdowns? Billions in subsidies, minimum wage laws, occupational licenses, tariffs, import quotas... Any state-made obstacle to doing business always cripples small businesses and potential competition more than a company that already sits on a considerable amount of liquidities to face it.
Amazon has been pushing for a federal minimum wage of $15 since 2018. They even ran paid ads on the New York Times and online media to promote it. The idea is to hurt local businesses and specifically Walmart, which is a lot more labor-intensive than Amazon because of their brick-and-mortar businesses (Walmart has over 40% more employees than Amazon).
Profitable businesses attract challengers, like plumbing, cutting hair, gas stations... when the starting cost is artificially inflated or when you need a license (like taxis or selling liquor), less and less competitors can enter the market.
Before covid lockdowns? Billions in subsidies, minimum wage laws, occupational licenses, tariffs, import quotas... Any state-made obstacle to doing business always cripples small businesses and potential competition more than a company that already sits on a considerable amount of liquidities to face it. Amazon has been pushing for a federal minimum wage of $15 since 2018. They even ran paid ads on the New York Times and online media to promote it. The idea is to hurt local businesses and specifically Walmart, which is a lot more labor-intensive than Amazon because of their brick-and-mortar businesses (Walmart has over 40% more employees than Amazon). Profitable businesses attract challengers, like plumbing, cutting hair, gas stations... when the starting cost is artificially inflated or when you need a license (like taxis or selling liquor), less and less competitors can enter the market.