EconAir

OVERVIEW: In the future, what will be the relationship between central governments of nation-states and large corporations including multinational corporations (MNCs)? For strong central governments with authoritarian rulers the objective is power. Economic resources and institutions are a means to political objectives and personal wealth. They have the resources - police, law courts, tax audits, extortion, subsidies, contracts - to dominate and exploit private companies and shareholders. At best, political oversight; at worst, extortion, expropriation and prison or execution. Private companies develop and control technology, innovation, production and management of output. Much of the military technology in the United States and Europe is developed and produced by private companies with government contracts. Almost all of the undersea fiber optic cables that carry almost all of the global internet traffic is owned by private companies. New cables are being laid by private companies to...