It seems to me that your observation in the first paragraph - "As these firms compound in power without much apparent profit, one can’t help but see them in their own category" - is written through the lens of the corporate ecosystem. Broadening the perspective reveals a decently-sized population of well studied, deeply analysed entities that inhabit what might be the same niche: nation states.
Nation states can be seen as organisations that exist to further the interests of the ruling elite and/or population rather than to fill state coffers per se. Among the many facets of this role are: controlling trade flows and routing them in some way through the nation state; amassing and projecting power; providing a stable, ordered environment in which to conduct business - including maintaining the rule of law; and making available to the population everything needed to live the idealised life promoted by its particular culture.
Amazon et al make more sense in this context and I would be interested in economic and financial analysis that made use of macroeconomic approaches and tools to investigate them.
Thank you for this post.
It seems to me that your observation in the first paragraph - "As these firms compound in power without much apparent profit, one can’t help but see them in their own category" - is written through the lens of the corporate ecosystem. Broadening the perspective reveals a decently-sized population of well studied, deeply analysed entities that inhabit what might be the same niche: nation states.
Nation states can be seen as organisations that exist to further the interests of the ruling elite and/or population rather than to fill state coffers per se. Among the many facets of this role are: controlling trade flows and routing them in some way through the nation state; amassing and projecting power; providing a stable, ordered environment in which to conduct business - including maintaining the rule of law; and making available to the population everything needed to live the idealised life promoted by its particular culture.
Amazon et al make more sense in this context and I would be interested in economic and financial analysis that made use of macroeconomic approaches and tools to investigate them.