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Soft-wars: A Capital-as-Power Analysis of Google's Power Trajectory

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  • Mouré, Christopher

Abstract

The capital as power framework, developed by Jonathan Nitzan and Shimshon Bichler, argues that the aim of business is not ‘profit maximization’ but the differential accumulation of social power. Using this framework as a theoretical starting point, I analyze the differential accumulation strategies of Google and Microsoft. I present qualitative and quantitative evidence demonstrating that, despite the fact that Google and Microsoft currently derive the majority of their profits from separate businesses (and so by conventional logic are not in direct competition with one another), the two firms are nonetheless engaged in antagonistic competition over control of the computing industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Mouré, Christopher, 2021. "Soft-wars: A Capital-as-Power Analysis of Google's Power Trajectory," Review of Capital as Power, Capital As Power - Toward a New Cosmology of Capitalism, vol. 2(1), pages 71-90.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:caprev:243101
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nitzan, Jonathan & Bichler, Shimshon, 2002. "The Global Political Economy of Israel," EconStor Books, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, number 157972, July.
    2. Nicholas Economides, 2001. "The Microsoft Antitrust Case," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 7-39, March.
    3. Nitzan, Jonathan & Bichler, Shimshon, 2009. "Capital as Power. A Study of Order and Creorder," EconStor Books, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, number 157973, July.
    4. Hager, Sandy Brian, 2012. "Investment Bank Power and Neoliberal Regulation: From the Volcker Shock to the Volcker Rule," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 68-92.
    5. Bichler, Shimshon & Nitzan, Jonathan, 2002. "New Economy or Transnational Ownership? The Global Political Economy of Israel," EconStor Preprints 157818, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    6. Nicholas Economides, 2001. "The Microsoft Antitrust Case: Rejoinder," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 71-79, March.
    7. Thorstein Veblen, 1908. "On the Nature of Capital," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 22(4), pages 517-542.
    8. Baines, Joseph, 2014. "Wal-Mart's Power Trajectory: A Contribution to the Political Economy of the Firm," Review of Capital as Power, Capital As Power - Toward a New Cosmology of Capitalism, vol. 1(1), pages 79-109.
    9. Cochrane, David Troy, 2017. "Differentiating Diamonds: Transforming Knowledge and the Accumulation of De Beers," Working Papers on Capital as Power 2017/01, Capital As Power - Toward a New Cosmology of Capitalism.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    capitalization; corporation; differential accumulation; Facebook; Google; Microsoft; profit; technology;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State
    • P26 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Property Rights
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies
    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior
    • D2 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations
    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design

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