Economics and Politics: Perspectives on the Goals and Future of Antitrust

81 Fordham Law Review 2175 (2013)

22 Pages Posted: 13 Jan 2013 Last revised: 30 Apr 2013

See all articles by Jonathan B. Baker

Jonathan B. Baker

American University - Washington College of Law

Date Written: January 13, 2013

Abstract

This article examines the roles of economics and politics in U.S. antitrust from several perspectives. It explains why the modern debate over the economic welfare standard that enforcers and courts should pursue is unsatisfying. It connects economics and politics by describing antitrust’s economic goals as the product of a mid-20th century political understanding about the nature of economic regulation that has continued in force to this day. To protect that understanding, it explains, antitrust rules should now be implemented using a qualified consumer welfare standard. The article also identifies contemporary political tensions that threaten to create regulatory gridlock, or even to undermine the political understanding, and uses that framework to sketch several possible futures for competition policy. The article concludes with a comment on the indispensable role of economics in shaping and applying modern antitrust.

JEL Classification: K21

Suggested Citation

Baker, Jonathan B., Economics and Politics: Perspectives on the Goals and Future of Antitrust (January 13, 2013). 81 Fordham Law Review 2175 (2013), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2200183 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2200183

Jonathan B. Baker (Contact Author)

American University - Washington College of Law ( email )

4300 Nebraska Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
United States
202-274-4315 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
416
Abstract Views
3,281
Rank
129,210
PlumX Metrics