This setup flips Karl Marx’s old dictum on its head. What he called the means of production can now be rented. Entire global supply chains can be borrowed at little more than the marginal cost of the underlying products they produce. This dramatically lowers the initial capital costs required to try something new. In addition, the basis of competition is shifting. Today’s consumers have more choices and are more demanding. Technology trends reward businesses that have the broadest reach with near-monopoly-type power. The basis of competition is often design, brand, business model, or
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