The Causes and Consequences of Antitrust

Assessing 100 years of antitrust policy in the USA, this text shows that although antitrust laws claim to serve the public, they are vulnerable to the influence of special interest groups. An analysis of how antitrust bows to self-serving business interests instead of the consumer is also included.

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Why has antitrust legislation not lived up to its promise of promoting free-market competition and protecting consumers? Assessing 100 years of antitrust policy in the United States, this book shows that while the antitrust laws claim to serve the public good, they are as vulnerable to the influence of special interest groups as are agricultural, welfare or health-care policies. Presenting empirical research, the authors explain how antitrust caters to self-serving business interests at the expense of the consumer.