The limits of Megacorp power?

[exostrike]

I'm beginning to think that there might actually be a point where megacorp domination of governments reaches a limit and acutally starts to reverse.

If a megacorp grows to such a size that it dominates the entire global economy then one of the major sources of power of multi-nationals is reduced because you can now no longer simply move your factories to another country since they already have factories there. Therefore their entire business model becomes dependent on the various states where their factories keeping the status quo.

Once the governments realise this they can start to demand greater and greater concessions form the megacorps so that they don't limit the companies activities there. The megacorp with their saturation of the rest of the world's economy can't pull out without setting off a destructive chain of disruption so they have no choice but to bow to the demands of the state. The whole situation is like Hegal's slave and master dialectic.

[Ximphron]

Economists and sociologists do predict that in the USA, at least, the economy will almost entirely switch to countless family businesses and cities will shrink as people move into small towns, and everything will become more localized. Basically the opposite of the last several decades.

[Tsyal Makto]

If they can successfully buy off the government, anything is possible. Case in point. (http://www.alternet.org/economy/154549/5_things_corporations_are_trying_to_hide_from_you/) All you've got to do then is keep the representatives fat'n'happy on your dirty money and you've got them at your fingertips. Buy off and influence the media and you've got a good chunk of the general populace numbed, as well. It's amazing the amount of lobbyist money flowing through capitals (especially the US). That's megacorps in action. Really, the only thing that can stop megacorps would be populist opposition, which seems to be occurring more and more recently. Thank Eywa.

My quick $0.02. I could go on longer, but I want to keep it short for my sanity's sake.

[visualizer]

Something like that could only happen in a closed system. Earth is not a closed system and humanity is always expanding. When a new technology develops, new corporations rise to replace the old. As humanity goes beyond the reaches of Earth, new markets form, and in effect, new ventures along with it. The economy is ever changing. To assume that it can stagnate and "stabilize" is to only be looking at one side of the coin.

@ Ximphron: Do you have a source for that? Because the current state of the economy suggests otherwise.

[Ximphron]

No, the information is from people I met in person.

Reasons I can recall include:
Jobs have moved out of cities and into smaller towns / suburbs.
People working at home more.
Cities are decentralizing and splitting.

[_Omaticaya_]

The whole situation is like Hegal's slave and master dialectic.

Mmm interesting, when Hegel says that the Slave becomes a Master as he can create something the previous master receives confort and benefit from. Well, could be, though I don't believe this could really happen, as there will always be more than one leading Corp, and if one Megacorp really had that much power, we'd be screwed -.- It's like fascism in economy -.-

[cargo]

Things change it only takes time and people trying to make change happen.