Principle1 analysis · Last added Oct 8, 2026
Competitive advantage
A lead lasts only while rivals can't copy what produces it. These analyses look at what a company's edge rests on, and what happens when that edge can be bought, copied or out-spent.
Essential reading
Start here
Recurring lessons
What companies keep learning about competitive advantage
Precedents cited in competitive advantage
| Year | Company | The move | Outcome | Cited in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2012 | Western solar makers | Solar panels | Undercut by state-financed Chinese capacity | Driscoll's |
| 2010–2011 | Groupon | Group buying | Thousands of copycats in China within a year | Driscoll's |
| 2016–2018 | Ofo | Bike sharing | Collapsed as dozens of rivals followed | Driscoll's |
Every case of competitive advantage
See all in the archiveDriscoll's taught China to love blueberries. Then China out-grew it.
Lesson: build the barrier before you need it.