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The Tiny State Whose Laws Affect Workers Everywhere
Article

The Tiny State Whose Laws Affect Workers Everywhere

The Atlantic, 2016

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative

Recommendation

Being one of the smallest and least populous states doesn’t stop Delaware from dwarfing the rest of America as a business hotspot. Two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies incorporate in the state, making them subject to local laws that require them to prioritize shareholder profit no matter where they do business. Journalist Alana Semuels explores how this “tiny” state of fewer than a million people has attracted corporations since the early 1900s, illuminating both history and controversy. getAbstract recommends this eye-opening article to business owners, employees, lawmakers and anyone interested in US corporate law.

Summary

More than 50% of all US public companies and two-thirds of Fortune 500 businesses including Coca-Cola, Apple, and American Airlines are incorporated in the US state of Delaware. Many of these companies even share the same address: 1209 North Orange Street. However, you won’t see thousands of staff turning up on Monday morning; their offices and operations are located outside the state.

Many people mistakenly believe that businesses choose to incorporate in Delaware in order to avoid paying taxes, but that isn’t the case. The real reason is the...

About the Author

Alana Semuels is a staff writer for The Atlantic and former national correspondent at the Los Angeles Times.