美国顶尖法学家论“榨取时代”

Core Viewpoint - The modern American capitalism has devolved into a system characterized by the accumulation of market power and extraction, leading to a profound sense of economic resentment across the nation [2][3]. Group 1: Shift in Corporate Goals - The core issue is the shift in corporate objectives from creating quality products that people want to buy to seeking control over others and extracting value from them [3]. - This shift is attributed to a lack of discipline, where companies are allowed to lower the quality of products and services without facing consequences [3][6]. - The trend challenges the fundamental ideals of American progress, particularly in the technology sector, which is expected to drive improvements [3][4]. Group 2: NFL as a Model - The NFL serves as a clear example of a market structure that maintains discipline and does not allow for the degradation of quality, ensuring that even the worst teams have opportunities to compete [4][5]. - The NFL's mechanisms, such as salary caps and drafts, promote fairness and balance, contrasting with the MLB, which suffers from distorted spending and resource misallocation [5]. Group 3: Economic Model and Wealth Distribution - The current economic model focuses on accumulating market power and extraction, leading to a redistribution of wealth upwards [6]. - Industries that once supported the middle class are being suppressed, while a few high-return sectors, including concentrated intermediaries and certain parts of finance and technology platforms, are favored [6]. Group 4: Attention Economy and Internet Neutrality - Tim Wu's contributions include the concept of "net neutrality," which mandates that internet service providers must treat all content equally, a significant victory as relevant laws remain effective [7]. - His earlier work on the "attention economy" highlighted how human attention has become a commodity that is increasingly exploited [8]. Group 5: Political Engagement and Economic Discourse - Wu reflects on his time in the Biden administration, expressing a desire for more action on children's privacy issues, noting the strong influence of large tech companies on politics [9][10]. - He engages in economic debates within leftist circles, indicating a tension regarding economic issues and expressing concern over the current political climate fueled by economic resentment [10][11].