Power, money and the rules, explained

Why some places thrive and others get drained

How power and money get captured by a few, from whole countries to your own town, and what people have done to win them back. Plain English, real cases, no party line.

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The big idea in one minute

Countries and towns tend to thrive or get drained depending on who writes the rules.

Extractive
  • Power held by a narrow few
  • Rules bent to protect insiders
  • Newcomers locked out of markets
  • Wealth flows up and stays there
Inclusive
  • Power spread out and checked
  • Rights that protect everyone
  • Open doors for new ideas
  • Gains shared more widely
Read the full explainer

Latest

Our first explainers are being written now. Start with the big idea above.

New Extraction Explained posts are on the way.

New Your Community posts are on the way.

New Nations posts are on the way.

New History of Power posts are on the way.

New Money & Inequality posts are on the way.

New Big Ideas & Books posts are on the way.

Rise up

Extraction is not a law of nature. People have broken up monopolies, built co-ops, organized and changed the rules. Here is how.

What you can do

Our first Rise Up guides are on the way.

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