This chapter examines how the single-pyramid system of power in Hungary and Macedonia extended into the media and business spheres, where control over information and economic resources reinforced incumbent dominance and sustained competitive authoritarian rule. In both countries, ruling parties consolidated narrative control by capturing or marginalizing independent media through regulatory pressure, ownership concentration, and preferential state advertising. In Hungary, the Fidesz government oversaw the integration of pro-government outlets into centralized holding structures, supported by state-subsidized advertising and licensing decisions that disadvantaged critical voices. In Macedonia, the VMRO-DPMNE–DUI coalition used selective legal and regulatory pressure, including politically motivated prosecutions and strategic allocation of state advertising, to co-opt or pressure media owners, fostering self-censorship and partisan alignment. Parallel strategies in the business sector secured a loyal economic base: in Hungary, government contracts, EU funds, and regulatory decisions were used to channel resources, while in Macedonia, public procurement and investment incentives rewarded allies and punished adversaries. These arrangements removed the boundary between state and party, embedding partisan control within formal economic structures and informal patronage networks. By shaping information flows and directing economic opportunities, incumbents entrenched advantages secured through legislative, administrative, and judicial capture, illustrating how the single-pyramid system penetrated society and eroded pluralism.