The price of Progress

As of the early 19^th century, railroads and canals spread across England- and then the rest of the world. More goods could then be sold more widely due to economies of scale. Factories running continuously at full capacity required relatively less labour and smaller investments. Once a big factory had killed all its small competitors in this way, it had a monopoly, and could slowly raise its prices.

Adam Smith's Invisible Hand did not only help capitalists to interlock their Directorates freely to acquire monopoly powers for themselves, it also helped them to organise the 'free market economy' so as to disorganise all competitors that might grow to dispute their powers. Massive propaganda for 'Free competition, free enterprise, individual initiative, private property.." justified the establishment of cartel-government controlled Monopolies Commissions to force butchers, bakers and candle-stick makers etc.,- to compete freely while the Directorates of massive monopolies interlocked more freely. Deliberately fragmented markets enabled bigger predators to consume smaller prey more easily.