Definition:
Resource capture is the process by which individuals, groups, or institutions gain disproportionate control over shared, public, or collectively generated resources for private or asymmetric benefit.
Usage Context:
Seen in corporate consolidation, regulatory processes, platform economies, land ownership, public funding allocation, and cultural institutions.
Critical Note:
Resource capture often occurs through legal and procedural means rather than overt theft. By shaping rules, access points, or eligibility criteria, capture becomes normalised and difficult to contest, even as collective capacity diminishes.
Related Terms:
Advantage Hoarding, Enclosure, Platform Power, Institutional Self-Alignment, Commons