Monopolies, an imperative evil?
Monopolies have had a bad reputation in economic terms. When an enterprise is the only available option to supply a good, it has the power to set the price and maximize its profits. This is immediately perceived as detrimental for the consumer who does not have a choice but to pay what is requested from a single supplier.
Still, to achieve vertical progress, that is, doing something nobody else has done, monopolies are an imperative "evil". The alternative is horizontal progress, which consists of spreading an existing technology to other locations in the rest of the world — globalization. In the words of Peter Thiel, co-founder of Paypal, vertical progress is "going from 0 to 1", instead of 1 to n. The latter not being sustainable environmentally, without technological advancements.
Monopolies are certainly dangerous when holding progress by remaining static in time, and governments are entitled of regulating such practices. But the excessive profits and growth of these enterprises are also an incentive for innovation and technological development. The alternative is fierce competition which might distract companies from radical improvements.
“Who wishes to fight must first count the cost.”