In the marketplace we’re competitors, but when it comes to the halls of Congress or the halls of the legislatures we are allies more than we are opponents. It is bottom line oriented but it’s not who has the biggest share of the market. It’s all of us being able to sell our products in a healthy environment, so then we can compete for market share. Academic debates over business power have focused on the question of whether business unifies to promote a common agenda. This chapter provides evidence for a strong affirmative to this question, especially in the context of pressure for congressional legislation. The authors examine how such unity is achieved, how it is affected by legislation, and what are its goals and impacts. The chapter ends with a description of the wellspring of corporate power: control over the economy.
