ICLE Comments in Opposition to Petition to Deny T-Mobile-Sprint Merger

41 Pages Posted: 31 May 2019

See all articles by Geoffrey A. Manne

Geoffrey A. Manne

International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE)

Julian Morris

International Center for Law and Economics; Reason Foundation; IEA, Institute of Economic Affairs, U.K.

Kristian Stout

International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE)

Justin (Gus) Hurwitz

International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE); University of Pennsylvania Law School

Date Written: September 18, 2018

Abstract

ICLE’s comments argue that the petitions to deny fail to provide any compelling reason to adopt a presumption against this merger. To the contrary, there are good reasons to think that this transaction will benefit consumers and the economy.

As ICLE scholars discuss in these comments, increased concentration is not necessarily good or bad in itself — it depends on the circumstances. Increases in market concentration in the US mobile industry have historically been accompanied by dramatic increases in quality and reductions in price. And there are compelling reasons to believe that the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint will continue this trend.

Indeed, the potential benefits of the deal — including wider access to, and more timely deployment of, high-speed wireless data at lower cost, as well as a host of other innovations—are considerable. In order to ensure that such consumer benefits can be realized, it is crucial that the proposed merger not be thwarted by regulators inappropriately focused on short-term, static effects.

Keywords: Antitrust, FCC, Mergers

Suggested Citation

Manne, Geoffrey and Morris, Julian and Stout, Kristian and Hurwitz, Justin (Gus), ICLE Comments in Opposition to Petition to Deny T-Mobile-Sprint Merger (September 18, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3384792 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3384792

Geoffrey Manne (Contact Author)

International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) ( email )

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Julian Morris

International Center for Law and Economics ( email )

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Reason Foundation ( email )

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IEA, Institute of Economic Affairs, U.K.

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London SW1P 3LB
United Kingdom

Kristian Stout

International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) ( email )

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Ste 501
Portland, OR Oregon 97232
United States
5037700076 (Phone)
5037700076 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.laweconcenter.org

Justin (Gus) Hurwitz

International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) ( email )

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Suite 300
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
United States

University of Pennsylvania Law School ( email )

3501 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

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