Small Liberal Arts Colleges, Fraternities, and Antitrust: Rethinking Hamilton College

Abstract:     
When small liberal arts colleges, particularly those in the Northeastern United States, abolish fraternities and sororities, they may be violating the antitrust laws. Additionally, by removing what may be the only viable competitor for room and board services for students in the small towns that host these liberal arts colleges, these schools are then free to raise room and board prices, at least to the level of their most expensive competitor. Since small liberal arts colleges in the Northeast are typicall the most expensive colleges in the country, and since their charges are outliers for all colleges, these increases in room and board prices may provide cover for increases in colleges across the United States.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 66

Keywords: antitrust, fraternities, sororities, college, tuition

JEL Classification: D40, D42, D43, K21, L12, L13, L31, L40, L41, L44

Accepted Paper Series