American political spending tops $1 billion – what it means for business

Throughout the past decade, Competitive Futures has been forecasting an increased role in “government relations” and lobbying for many major industries. The pharmaceutical industry has increasing reliance on governments, who are far and away their biggest customer. The increased prevalence of Asian manufacturing has made trade regulations a bigger factor in competition. Of course, this has finally gone into overdrive this year, as governments have begun buying majority stakes in a variety of critical industries.

It should be no surprise then that political advertising in America hit $1 billion this year. Competition is becoming increasingly about policies and who is making them, less about any notion of a free and functioning market.

In addition to competitive intelligence, you need political intelligence to complete your view of strategic scenarios.