Bill Overview
Title: Main Street Competes Act
Description: This bill expands certain reporting requirements and responsibilities of the Small Business Administration with respect to the effect on small businesses of the enforcement of federal antitrust laws.
Sponsors: Rep. Newman, Marie [D-IL-3]
Target Audience
Population: Small business owners
Estimated Size: 30000000
- The bill is related to the Small Business Administration which primarily focuses on small businesses.
- It targets the enforcement of federal antitrust laws and their impact, which is a complex domain potentially affecting all small businesses.
- Antitrust laws are designed to ensure competition and prevent monopolies, impacting all sectors that involve small businesses.
- Small businesses are present in almost every country worldwide, making the global reach significant.
Reasoning
- There are approximately 30 million small businesses in the US, covering various sectors and demographics.
- The policy primarily affects small business owners, so interviews should focus on individuals who own or operate small businesses.
- Impacts might vary based on industry type, geographical location, and competition intensity, reflecting different perspectives.
- Given the budget limit, the policy won't reach every small business, so many may experience no impact, while others might see changes in market conditions.
- Taking into account varying demographics such as age, gender, and industry sector, we aim to capture a diverse range of small business owners.
- The Cantril Wellbeing Scale serves as a valuable indicator of perceived quality of life and sentiment towards the business environment, before and after the policy.
Simulated Interviews
Owner of a local bakery (Austin, TX)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy helps level the playing field against big chains.
- If antitrust laws are enforced better, it could give us a chance to compete more fairly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Car parts manufacturer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 57 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Antitrust enforcement is critical for my survival against large manufacturers.
- This policy could provide us a fighting chance in our industry.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Tech startup founder (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm skeptical that enforcing antitrust laws will make a big difference for startups.
- We still need to innovate continuously to survive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Farmer and produce supplier (Rural Nebraska)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the big ag companies were kept in check, we might see better prices.
- I’m cautiously optimistic about this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Owner of a digital marketing agency (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Changes might help small organizations like us grow further.
- There's a lot to anticipate for increased market fairness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Bookstore owner (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might help us retain more business locally.
- The enforcement could deter unfair practices by larger businesses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Owner of a craft brewery (Chicago, IL)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stricter antitrust enforcement could attract more customers interested in supporting small businesses.
- Hoping for more equitable market conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Freelance graphic designer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The gig economy is tricky, and some protection from large firms would be welcome.
- It’s not clear how much this policy would actually affect freelancers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Owner of a small retail shop (New York, NY)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Antitrust laws may help prevent big stores from dominating entirely.
- It’s crucial for our survival in such a competitive environment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Consultant for small businesses (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Such a policy is essential to provide small businesses with more opportunities.
- This might give leverage to some of my clients competing with large corporations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $55000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $65000000)
Year 3: $55000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $65000000)
Year 5: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 10: $65000000 (Low: $55000000, High: $75000000)
Year 100: $80000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $90000000)
Key Considerations
- The precise cost of implementing new reporting and enforcement procedures will vary based on the Small Business Administration's current capacity and the complexity of new requirements.
- Antitrust law enforcement must balance potential benefits of increased competition with the administrative and compliance burdens on small businesses, potentially affecting costs variably.
- Fostering a more competitive business environment is a long-term strategy, and such impacts on business dynamics, growth, and revenues develop over time.