Critical Takes on Corporate Power
@criticaltakes.bsky.social
A non-profit platform for discussing the power of multinationals, by and for civil society.
https://criticaltakes.org
To keep up with the latest, sign up here:
https://criticaltakes.org/newsletters/
https://criticaltakes.org
To keep up with the latest, sign up here:
https://criticaltakes.org/newsletters/
What do you think of Critical Takes on Corporate Power?
If you're from civil society and you find the platform useful, please send in your comments (see link below).
Your feedback will influence the direction of Critical Takes in 2026.
criticaltakes.org/the-corporat...
If you're from civil society and you find the platform useful, please send in your comments (see link below).
Your feedback will influence the direction of Critical Takes in 2026.
criticaltakes.org/the-corporat...
December 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
What do you think of Critical Takes on Corporate Power?
If you're from civil society and you find the platform useful, please send in your comments (see link below).
Your feedback will influence the direction of Critical Takes in 2026.
criticaltakes.org/the-corporat...
If you're from civil society and you find the platform useful, please send in your comments (see link below).
Your feedback will influence the direction of Critical Takes in 2026.
criticaltakes.org/the-corporat...
Reposted by Critical Takes on Corporate Power
I've been thinking through 'polycrisis', finding its rise and fall helpful to think with. The Transition Security Project invited me to bend those ideas their way, and I'm very pleased with how they turned out: transitionsecurity.org/polycrisis-a...
Polycrisis: A Breviary
Today’s world is beset by several overlapping crises. Movements on the frontline are mapping out strategies for survival.
transitionsecurity.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I've been thinking through 'polycrisis', finding its rise and fall helpful to think with. The Transition Security Project invited me to bend those ideas their way, and I'm very pleased with how they turned out: transitionsecurity.org/polycrisis-a...
Reposted by Critical Takes on Corporate Power
🚨Exposed: how a secretive alliance of US companies is working to tear down the CSDDD.
They:
- Aimed to get “the most extreme position” in the European Parliament
- Worked to mobilise pressure from non-EU countries
- Paid for a think tank report
Full analysis: www.somo.nl/the-secretiv...
They:
- Aimed to get “the most extreme position” in the European Parliament
- Worked to mobilise pressure from non-EU countries
- Paid for a think tank report
Full analysis: www.somo.nl/the-secretiv...
December 3, 2025 at 8:36 AM
🚨Exposed: how a secretive alliance of US companies is working to tear down the CSDDD.
They:
- Aimed to get “the most extreme position” in the European Parliament
- Worked to mobilise pressure from non-EU countries
- Paid for a think tank report
Full analysis: www.somo.nl/the-secretiv...
They:
- Aimed to get “the most extreme position” in the European Parliament
- Worked to mobilise pressure from non-EU countries
- Paid for a think tank report
Full analysis: www.somo.nl/the-secretiv...
Patent Box tax breaks are a costly public subsidy to corporations which don't need them
Nice to see @taxjustice.net featuring the report by @taxwatch.bsky.social on the UK's £2 billion Patent Box, £486m of which goes to one company.
To which I contributed (sorry, got to bang the drum nowadays).
Nice to see @taxjustice.net featuring the report by @taxwatch.bsky.social on the UK's £2 billion Patent Box, £486m of which goes to one company.
To which I contributed (sorry, got to bang the drum nowadays).
🚨💸Multinationals get an ave 63% tax discount on IP-generated profits, the equivalent of workers paying no income tax for 7 months. Patent box rules cost countries billions & fuel global profit shifting. It’s time for pay-where-you-play taxation with a #UNTaxConvention. bit.ly/3KhmNaR
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Patent Box tax breaks are a costly public subsidy to corporations which don't need them
Nice to see @taxjustice.net featuring the report by @taxwatch.bsky.social on the UK's £2 billion Patent Box, £486m of which goes to one company.
To which I contributed (sorry, got to bang the drum nowadays).
Nice to see @taxjustice.net featuring the report by @taxwatch.bsky.social on the UK's £2 billion Patent Box, £486m of which goes to one company.
To which I contributed (sorry, got to bang the drum nowadays).
So the World Health Organisation wants Big Pharma to sell weight-loss drugs for less profit, so as to counter a diet crisis driven by Big Junk Food.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Towards unified global action on ultra-processed foods: understanding commercial determinants, countering corporate power, and mobilising a public health response
The rise of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in human diets is harming global public health.
However, policy responses are still emerging—much like tobacco control efforts decades
ago—indicating the need ...
www.thelancet.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:58 PM
So the World Health Organisation wants Big Pharma to sell weight-loss drugs for less profit, so as to counter a diet crisis driven by Big Junk Food.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Great look at corporate intellectual monopolies here: how Big Pharma "controls the infrastructure of innovation itself".
And corporations can blackmail states for tax breaks and other subsidies by threatening to move their "innovation" abroad.
But note the approaching "patent cliff"...
And corporations can blackmail states for tax breaks and other subsidies by threatening to move their "innovation" abroad.
But note the approaching "patent cliff"...
Monopoly power has expanded from control over factories and machines to control over knowledge, patents, and data.
Our new analysis shows how Big Pharma increasingly profit without producing by owning intellectual property and dominating innovation networks rather than building things themselves. ⬇️
Our new analysis shows how Big Pharma increasingly profit without producing by owning intellectual property and dominating innovation networks rather than building things themselves. ⬇️
The power to profit without producing - SOMO
Over the past 3 decades, corporate power has expanded from control over factories and machines to control over knowledge, patents, and data. Read more.
www.somo.nl
November 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Great look at corporate intellectual monopolies here: how Big Pharma "controls the infrastructure of innovation itself".
And corporations can blackmail states for tax breaks and other subsidies by threatening to move their "innovation" abroad.
But note the approaching "patent cliff"...
And corporations can blackmail states for tax breaks and other subsidies by threatening to move their "innovation" abroad.
But note the approaching "patent cliff"...
Reposted by Critical Takes on Corporate Power
New OECD data, just out today:
For the third year running, the average global corporate tax rate *increased* - and more countries now *raise* than lower their corporate taxes.
This follows the adoption of the global minimum tax and essentially reverses four decades of racing to the bottom.
For the third year running, the average global corporate tax rate *increased* - and more countries now *raise* than lower their corporate taxes.
This follows the adoption of the global minimum tax and essentially reverses four decades of racing to the bottom.
November 25, 2025 at 2:18 PM
New OECD data, just out today:
For the third year running, the average global corporate tax rate *increased* - and more countries now *raise* than lower their corporate taxes.
This follows the adoption of the global minimum tax and essentially reverses four decades of racing to the bottom.
For the third year running, the average global corporate tax rate *increased* - and more countries now *raise* than lower their corporate taxes.
This follows the adoption of the global minimum tax and essentially reverses four decades of racing to the bottom.
The British media has an annoying habit of calling any tax rise a "raid".
"Raiding" paid for the streets those journalists walk on, the trains they ride, the parks where they stroll, etc.
So why say "raid"?
1. Free-market dogma has eaten into their souls.
2. It fits neatly into a headline.
"Raiding" paid for the streets those journalists walk on, the trains they ride, the parks where they stroll, etc.
So why say "raid"?
1. Free-market dogma has eaten into their souls.
2. It fits neatly into a headline.
November 25, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The British media has an annoying habit of calling any tax rise a "raid".
"Raiding" paid for the streets those journalists walk on, the trains they ride, the parks where they stroll, etc.
So why say "raid"?
1. Free-market dogma has eaten into their souls.
2. It fits neatly into a headline.
"Raiding" paid for the streets those journalists walk on, the trains they ride, the parks where they stroll, etc.
So why say "raid"?
1. Free-market dogma has eaten into their souls.
2. It fits neatly into a headline.
"We are not at all like Enron", says the most valuable listed company in the world.
NVIDIA is not Enron. Enron were fraudsters.
But NVIDIA is balancing atop what looks like a giant bubble ...
NVIDIA is not Enron. Enron were fraudsters.
But NVIDIA is balancing atop what looks like a giant bubble ...
It is wild to me that the largest company on the stock market, one with such incredible prestige and a huge PR team got dog-walked here. Why would you EVER give this ANY oxygen? Now everybody is asking whether NVIDIA is like Enron! This didn't help at all!
Nvidia refuted accounting questions in a memo to analysts, saying "Unlike Enron, NVIDIA does not use Special Purpose Entities to hide debt and inflate revenue" (Tae Kim/Barron's Online)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 AM
"We are not at all like Enron", says the most valuable listed company in the world.
NVIDIA is not Enron. Enron were fraudsters.
But NVIDIA is balancing atop what looks like a giant bubble ...
NVIDIA is not Enron. Enron were fraudsters.
But NVIDIA is balancing atop what looks like a giant bubble ...
What do you think of Critical Takes on Corporate Power?
If you're from civil society and you find Critical Takes useful, please send in your comments.
(See the link below for details on how to do this).
Your views will influence Critical Takes in 2026.
criticaltakes.org/the-corporat...
If you're from civil society and you find Critical Takes useful, please send in your comments.
(See the link below for details on how to do this).
Your views will influence Critical Takes in 2026.
criticaltakes.org/the-corporat...
November 21, 2025 at 2:25 PM
What do you think of Critical Takes on Corporate Power?
If you're from civil society and you find Critical Takes useful, please send in your comments.
(See the link below for details on how to do this).
Your views will influence Critical Takes in 2026.
criticaltakes.org/the-corporat...
If you're from civil society and you find Critical Takes useful, please send in your comments.
(See the link below for details on how to do this).
Your views will influence Critical Takes in 2026.
criticaltakes.org/the-corporat...
Don't like private equity? This very readable take argues that:
1. The bad social impacts of PE aren't necessarily much different from extractive big business in general.
2. In the US, PE has extracted so much profit from its assets that it now struggles to sell them on to others.
1. The bad social impacts of PE aren't necessarily much different from extractive big business in general.
2. In the US, PE has extracted so much profit from its assets that it now struggles to sell them on to others.
A new piece for @thenation.com on everyone's favourite industry -- private equity; in conversation with one of the many new books on PE, by Megan Greenwell.
Here:
Here:
Can We Blame Private Equity for Everything?
Did PE firms make the world worse? Or was it something else?
www.thenation.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Don't like private equity? This very readable take argues that:
1. The bad social impacts of PE aren't necessarily much different from extractive big business in general.
2. In the US, PE has extracted so much profit from its assets that it now struggles to sell them on to others.
1. The bad social impacts of PE aren't necessarily much different from extractive big business in general.
2. In the US, PE has extracted so much profit from its assets that it now struggles to sell them on to others.
A big new scientific study underlines the role of corporate power in pushing ultra-processed foods which pose a major threat to public health.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Ultra-processed food linked to harm in every major human organ, study finds
World’s largest scientific review warns consumption of UPFs poses seismic threat to global health and wellbeing
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:51 AM
A big new scientific study underlines the role of corporate power in pushing ultra-processed foods which pose a major threat to public health.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
A cautionary tale about a European attempt to break free of US Big Tech which ended up being derailed by it.
If you want to solve a problem of corporate power, don't give seats on your board to the companies creating that problem.
If you want to solve a problem of corporate power, don't give seats on your board to the companies creating that problem.
A major five-year effort to build a technology base for Europe free of US influence flopped amid conflicting national strategies and powerful corporate lobbying.
Anatomy of a Franco-German tech misfire
As Europe debates how far to go in pivoting away from US Big Tech, a cloud initiative provides a cautionary tale.
www.politico.eu
November 17, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A cautionary tale about a European attempt to break free of US Big Tech which ended up being derailed by it.
If you want to solve a problem of corporate power, don't give seats on your board to the companies creating that problem.
If you want to solve a problem of corporate power, don't give seats on your board to the companies creating that problem.
Fresh thinking about corporate power, only on Critical Takes:
- The duplicity of Big 4 accounting firms.
- Last year a UN panel set high standards for critical mineral mining. How's that going?
- Weak journalism and the UK's Big Pharma saga.
All that and more at:
criticaltakes.org/our-takes/
- The duplicity of Big 4 accounting firms.
- Last year a UN panel set high standards for critical mineral mining. How's that going?
- Weak journalism and the UK's Big Pharma saga.
All that and more at:
criticaltakes.org/our-takes/
November 17, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Fresh thinking about corporate power, only on Critical Takes:
- The duplicity of Big 4 accounting firms.
- Last year a UN panel set high standards for critical mineral mining. How's that going?
- Weak journalism and the UK's Big Pharma saga.
All that and more at:
criticaltakes.org/our-takes/
- The duplicity of Big 4 accounting firms.
- Last year a UN panel set high standards for critical mineral mining. How's that going?
- Weak journalism and the UK's Big Pharma saga.
All that and more at:
criticaltakes.org/our-takes/
The Big Four accounting and consulting firms are enablers of corporate power and powers in their own right.
They police the rules on behalf of states while advising wealthy clients on how to get advantage from them.
Is it time to break up them up?
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
They police the rules on behalf of states while advising wealthy clients on how to get advantage from them.
Is it time to break up them up?
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
November 13, 2025 at 1:35 PM
The Big Four accounting and consulting firms are enablers of corporate power and powers in their own right.
They police the rules on behalf of states while advising wealthy clients on how to get advantage from them.
Is it time to break up them up?
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
They police the rules on behalf of states while advising wealthy clients on how to get advantage from them.
Is it time to break up them up?
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
New on Critical Takes
How the Big Four accounting firms act as guardians of the rules while advising clients on how to get around them.
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
If you like what you read on Critical Takes, please share it!
How the Big Four accounting firms act as guardians of the rules while advising clients on how to get around them.
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
If you like what you read on Critical Takes, please share it!
November 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
New on Critical Takes
How the Big Four accounting firms act as guardians of the rules while advising clients on how to get around them.
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
If you like what you read on Critical Takes, please share it!
How the Big Four accounting firms act as guardians of the rules while advising clients on how to get around them.
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
If you like what you read on Critical Takes, please share it!
"Corporate power, if it's not constrained by the law and by international rights standards, is going to be a huge issue for us."
The UN human rights chief.
Big Tech is the sharp end of a bigger problem: food, finance, medicines, mining, you name it.
1/2
uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/concent...
The UN human rights chief.
Big Tech is the sharp end of a bigger problem: food, finance, medicines, mining, you name it.
1/2
uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/concent...
Concentration of corporate power a 'huge' concern: UN rights chief
A few tech giants accumulating massive power coupled with artificial intelligence is posing huge global rights challenges and needs regulation, the UN human rights chief told AFP in an interview.The f...
uk.finance.yahoo.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:29 AM
"Corporate power, if it's not constrained by the law and by international rights standards, is going to be a huge issue for us."
The UN human rights chief.
Big Tech is the sharp end of a bigger problem: food, finance, medicines, mining, you name it.
1/2
uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/concent...
The UN human rights chief.
Big Tech is the sharp end of a bigger problem: food, finance, medicines, mining, you name it.
1/2
uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/concent...
Reposted by Critical Takes on Corporate Power
Who is killing the coffee trade? www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
Who is killing the coffee trade?
I was recently reading the introduction to James Hoffmann’s World Atlas of Coffee, which someone in our house seems to have because this is a subject close to our hearts.
He had this to say in his int...
www.taxresearch.org.uk
November 7, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Who is killing the coffee trade? www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
Another day, another British media story which uncritically reports the claims of a US Big Pharma company without considering the context.
Which is that this company is highly profitable already, but still wants more revenues, more profits and more public subsidies.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
Which is that this company is highly profitable already, but still wants more revenues, more profits and more public subsidies.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
Britain’s plan to raise NHS drug prices won’t bring back Lilly’s investment
Comments from medicines firm Eli Lilly will be a blow to British officials, who are in advanced negotiations with the Trump administration to secure tariff relief.
www.politico.eu
November 5, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Another day, another British media story which uncritically reports the claims of a US Big Pharma company without considering the context.
Which is that this company is highly profitable already, but still wants more revenues, more profits and more public subsidies.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
Which is that this company is highly profitable already, but still wants more revenues, more profits and more public subsidies.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
Ensuring justice in the mining of critical minerals and Big Pharma's UK drug price shenanigans.
The new Critical Takes newsletter is out!
(Delayed a few days by a technical hitch)
criticaltakes.org/newsletters/...
If you like what you read or hear on Critical Takes, please share with others.
The new Critical Takes newsletter is out!
(Delayed a few days by a technical hitch)
criticaltakes.org/newsletters/...
If you like what you read or hear on Critical Takes, please share with others.
November 4, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Ensuring justice in the mining of critical minerals and Big Pharma's UK drug price shenanigans.
The new Critical Takes newsletter is out!
(Delayed a few days by a technical hitch)
criticaltakes.org/newsletters/...
If you like what you read or hear on Critical Takes, please share with others.
The new Critical Takes newsletter is out!
(Delayed a few days by a technical hitch)
criticaltakes.org/newsletters/...
If you like what you read or hear on Critical Takes, please share with others.
Reposted by Critical Takes on Corporate Power
We have the right to know which multinational corporations cheated on over a trillion in tax. Our governments had the tax records but didn’t make them public. Doing so could’ve recover hundreds of billions in tax #NameTheTaxCheaters #TaxJustice2025
Find out more: bit.ly/49wNnH0
Find out more: bit.ly/49wNnH0
November 4, 2025 at 8:00 AM
We have the right to know which multinational corporations cheated on over a trillion in tax. Our governments had the tax records but didn’t make them public. Doing so could’ve recover hundreds of billions in tax #NameTheTaxCheaters #TaxJustice2025
Find out more: bit.ly/49wNnH0
Find out more: bit.ly/49wNnH0
Reposted by Critical Takes on Corporate Power
Who are UN climate talks really serving? 🤔
What we see:
🚩 Big polluters as sponsors
🚩 Fossil fuel executives in presidency teams
🚩 Multinationals included in negotiation
🚩 Fossil fuel phase-out missing from the agenda
🚩 Spotlight on corporate-driven "solutions" e.g. carbon offsets
#COP30 (1/3)
What we see:
🚩 Big polluters as sponsors
🚩 Fossil fuel executives in presidency teams
🚩 Multinationals included in negotiation
🚩 Fossil fuel phase-out missing from the agenda
🚩 Spotlight on corporate-driven "solutions" e.g. carbon offsets
#COP30 (1/3)
November 3, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Who are UN climate talks really serving? 🤔
What we see:
🚩 Big polluters as sponsors
🚩 Fossil fuel executives in presidency teams
🚩 Multinationals included in negotiation
🚩 Fossil fuel phase-out missing from the agenda
🚩 Spotlight on corporate-driven "solutions" e.g. carbon offsets
#COP30 (1/3)
What we see:
🚩 Big polluters as sponsors
🚩 Fossil fuel executives in presidency teams
🚩 Multinationals included in negotiation
🚩 Fossil fuel phase-out missing from the agenda
🚩 Spotlight on corporate-driven "solutions" e.g. carbon offsets
#COP30 (1/3)
Really interesting thinking from the UK about how to democratise planning.
The power of very large corporations is going to be, in many cases, a big obstacle to these things happening.
So it's good to see that this agenda includes more democratic models of the firm, and international cooperation.
The power of very large corporations is going to be, in many cases, a big obstacle to these things happening.
So it's good to see that this agenda includes more democratic models of the firm, and international cooperation.
🚨 Today, Common Wealth launches the Green Planning Commission.
A major new initiative to tackle the twin crises of our era: climate breakdown & the affordability crisis.
To meet these challenges, we need a new era of democratic planning.
🧵
https://www.common-wealth.org/green-planning-commission
A major new initiative to tackle the twin crises of our era: climate breakdown & the affordability crisis.
To meet these challenges, we need a new era of democratic planning.
🧵
https://www.common-wealth.org/green-planning-commission
October 30, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Really interesting thinking from the UK about how to democratise planning.
The power of very large corporations is going to be, in many cases, a big obstacle to these things happening.
So it's good to see that this agenda includes more democratic models of the firm, and international cooperation.
The power of very large corporations is going to be, in many cases, a big obstacle to these things happening.
So it's good to see that this agenda includes more democratic models of the firm, and international cooperation.
Critical Takes on Corporate Power presents fresh thinking from civil society around the world.
Five of the newest:
1. Justice in the mining of critical minerals
criticaltakes.org/society-and-...
2. The UK's Big Pharma drug price saga
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
...
1/2
Five of the newest:
1. Justice in the mining of critical minerals
criticaltakes.org/society-and-...
2. The UK's Big Pharma drug price saga
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
...
1/2
October 29, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Critical Takes on Corporate Power presents fresh thinking from civil society around the world.
Five of the newest:
1. Justice in the mining of critical minerals
criticaltakes.org/society-and-...
2. The UK's Big Pharma drug price saga
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
...
1/2
Five of the newest:
1. Justice in the mining of critical minerals
criticaltakes.org/society-and-...
2. The UK's Big Pharma drug price saga
criticaltakes.org/tax-and-prof...
...
1/2