Consumer Surplus As the Appropriate Standard for Antitrust Enforcement

Consumer Surplus As the Appropriate Standard for Antitrust Enforcement PDF Author: Russell Pittman
Publisher: BiblioGov
ISBN: 9781289008505
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 22

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Book Description
In antitrust enforcement as in cost-benefit analysis, neoclassical economics may be interpreted as arguing for the use of a "total welfare" standard whose implementation treats transfers as welfare-neutral. Several recent papers call for antitrust agencies to move in the direction of this version of a total welfare standard for enforcement. However, as Williamson (1968) noted, horizontal mergers typically result in transfers that may greatly exceed in magnitude any deadweight loss or efficiency gain, so that a decision to ignore transfers may be quite important. I argue that such transfers are likely overall to be quite regressive, and thus that a consumer surplus standard rather than a total welfare standard may be appropriate for antitrust. Two common arguments against this standard a " that most mergers are in markets for intermediate goods, and that a consumer welfare standard implies a tolerance for monopsony a " are examined and found wanting. I argue in addition that, even if a total welfare standard is used, both the finance literature on merger outcomes and the structure of the U.S. enforcement agencies suggest that the use of a consumer surplus standard by the agencies is more likely to achieve that goal.

Consumer Surplus As the Appropriate Standard for Antitrust Enforcement

Consumer Surplus As the Appropriate Standard for Antitrust Enforcement PDF Author: Russell Pittman
Publisher: BiblioGov
ISBN: 9781289008505
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 22

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Book Description
In antitrust enforcement as in cost-benefit analysis, neoclassical economics may be interpreted as arguing for the use of a "total welfare" standard whose implementation treats transfers as welfare-neutral. Several recent papers call for antitrust agencies to move in the direction of this version of a total welfare standard for enforcement. However, as Williamson (1968) noted, horizontal mergers typically result in transfers that may greatly exceed in magnitude any deadweight loss or efficiency gain, so that a decision to ignore transfers may be quite important. I argue that such transfers are likely overall to be quite regressive, and thus that a consumer surplus standard rather than a total welfare standard may be appropriate for antitrust. Two common arguments against this standard a " that most mergers are in markets for intermediate goods, and that a consumer welfare standard implies a tolerance for monopsony a " are examined and found wanting. I argue in addition that, even if a total welfare standard is used, both the finance literature on merger outcomes and the structure of the U.S. enforcement agencies suggest that the use of a consumer surplus standard by the agencies is more likely to achieve that goal.

Consumer Surplus as the Appropriate Standard for Antitrust Enforcement

Consumer Surplus as the Appropriate Standard for Antitrust Enforcement PDF Author: Russell Pittman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Antitrust investigations
Languages : en
Pages : 17

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Book Description


Consumer Surplus as the Appropriate Standard for Antitrust Enforcement

Consumer Surplus as the Appropriate Standard for Antitrust Enforcement PDF Author: Russell Pittman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Antitrust investigations
Languages : en
Pages : 17

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Book Description


Does Antitrust Need to be Modernized?

Does Antitrust Need to be Modernized? PDF Author: Dennis W. Carlton
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Antitrust law
Languages : en
Pages : 30

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Book Description


Research Handbook on the Economics of Antitrust Law

Research Handbook on the Economics of Antitrust Law PDF Author: Einer Elhauge
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 0857938096
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 425

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Book Description
One might mistakenly think that the long tradition of economic analysis in antitrust law would mean there is little new to say. Yet the field is surprisingly dynamic and changing. The specially commissioned chapters in this landmark volume offer a rigorous analysis of the field's most current and contentious issues. Focusing on those areas of antitrust economics that are most in flux, leading scholars discuss topics such as: mergers that create unilateral effects or eliminate potential competition; whether market definition is necessary; tying, bundled discounts, and loyalty discounts; a new theory of predatory pricing; assessing vertical price-fixing after Leegin; proving horizontal agreements after Twombly; modern analysis of monopsony power; the economics of antitrust enforcement; international antitrust issues; antitrust in regulated industries; the antitrust-patent intersection; and modern methods for measuring antitrust damages. Students and scholars of law and economics, law practitioners, regulators, and economists with an interest in industrial organization and consulting will find this seminal Handbook an essential and informative resource.

The Economics of the Antitrust Process

The Economics of the Antitrust Process PDF Author: M.B. Coate
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 146131397X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 265

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Book Description
This book focuses on the antitrust process and how that process affects the efficiency of antitrust law enforcement. The contributors share a wide range of experiences in the antitrust process, including academia, the legal environment, and both private and public sectors. The book deals first with merger activities, followed by non-merger enforcement initiatives and concludes with an examination of the future role of antitrust.

Antitrust Law Journal

Antitrust Law Journal PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Energy policy
Languages : en
Pages : 1244

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Book Description


The Antitrust Paradox

The Antitrust Paradox PDF Author: Robert Bork
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781736089712
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 536

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Book Description
The most important book on antitrust ever written. It shows how antitrust suits adversely affect the consumer by encouraging a costly form of protection for inefficient and uncompetitive small businesses.

Competition Law

Competition Law PDF Author: Eugène Buttigieg
Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.
ISBN: 9041131191
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 446

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Book Description
Although it is commonly assumed that consumers benefit from the application of competition law, this is not necessarily always the case. Economic efficiency is paramount; thus, competition law in Europe and antitrust law in the United States are designed primarily to protect business competitors (and in Europe to promote market integration), and it is only incidentally that such law may also serve to protect consumers. That is the essential starting point of this penetrating critique. The author explores the extent to which US antitrust law and EC competition law adequately safeguard consumer interests. Specifically, he shows how the two jurisdictions have gone about evaluating collusive practices, abusive conduct by dominant firms and merger activity, and how the policies thus formed have impacted upon the promotion of consumer interests. He argues that unless consumer interests are directly and specifically addressed in the assessment process, maximization of consumer welfare is not sufficiently achieved. Using rigorous analysis he develops legal arguments that can accomplish such goals as the following: replace the economic theory of 'consumer welfare' with a principle of consumer well-being; build consumer benefits into specific areas of competition policy; assess competition cases so that income distribution effects are more beneficial to consumers; and control mergers in such a way that efficiencies are passed directly to consumers. The author argues that, in the last analysis, the promotion of consumer well-being should be the sole or at least the primary goal of any antitrust regime. Lawyers and scholars interested in the application and development and reform of competition law and policy will welcome this book. They will find not only a fresh approach to interpretation and practice in their field - comparing and contrasting two major systems of competition law - but also an extremely lucid analysis of the various economic arguments used to highlight the consumer welfare enhancing or welfare reducing effects of business practices.

Fairness in Antitrust

Fairness in Antitrust PDF Author: Adi Ayal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782254021
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 365

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Book Description
What drives popular support for state-enforced competition policy? What is it about antitrust law that garners approval from both the public and courts, to the point of demonizing large firms convicted of antitrust offenses? In this book Adi Ayal argues that the populist roots of antitrust are still with us, guiding sentiment towards a legal regime that has otherwise shifted towards economic analysis. Antitrust is very much about fairness and morality; this book assesses how modern policy has hijacked popular support - based on traditional conceptions of political and economic power - to combat market power in narrowly defined micro-markets. Beginning with history, but delving into moral and political philosophy, Professor Ayal shows how arguments concerning fairness in antitrust apply both to monopolists and their victims. Fairness thus requires a balancing test based on context and respecting the rights of all parties involved. While traditionally fairness arguments were used to justify intervention where economic analysis did not, this book assesses them from first principles, to show that pure efficiency analysis is flawed from a moral standpoint when the state intervenes. Protecting weak consumers from strong monopolists may carry rhetorical weight, but the reality of antitrust is that the state is much more powerful than almost all firms it regulates. Protecting the strong from the weak, especially when 'weak' consumers hold legal power and influence, might very well be a moral imperative. This book offers a philosophical account of the conundrum facing competition policy which challenges widely-held yet often implicit and unfounded beliefs.