A Separate FTC Section 2 Report?
[UPDATE: I misread Kroes’ speech in a rush. As a loyal blog reader points out, Kroes was obviously referring to the European Commission’s release of its own report, not the Federal Trade Commission. Oops.]. I’ve discussed some problems with the FTC statement in response to DOJ’s release of the Section 2 Report. In particular, I criticized some ... A Separate FTC Section 2 Report?
A Open Letter From Steve Horwitz
To his friends on the left on accepting and understanding the role that regulation has played in the current financial mess despite calls to chalk the whole thing up to knee-jerk ideological deregulatory policies. Greg Mankiw also calls out Senator Obama for offering a distorted version of history in the Presidential debate.
N-Data Settlement Approved 3-1
The public comment period has closed and the N-Data settlement has been approved by a vote of 3-1 with Chairman Kovacic voting against (his earlier dissent is here). I think is a sleeper candidate for one of the most important antitrust events of the year as it potentially signals a remarkable expansion of the Commission’s ... N-Data Settlement Approved 3-1
Geradin on Loyalty Rebates
Damien Geradin has posted an interesting paper on “Separating Pro-competitive from Anti-competitive Loyalty Rebates: A Conceptual Framework.” Here’s the (long) abstract: In its submission to the recent OECD Roundtable on Bundled and Loyalty Discounts and Rebates (the “OECD Roundtable on rebates“), Korea observed that “loyalty discounts are getting growing attention both academically and practically” and ... Geradin on Loyalty Rebates
Nothing to See Here, Move Along …
You’ve got questions about Freddie Mac? They’ve got answers. Here’s my favorite: Does Freddie Mac pose financial risk to American taxpayers? No. Many independent, formal studies – conducted by government agencies and private rating agencies – confirm that Freddie Mac is adequately capitalized and manages its business risks well. Freddie Mac’s obligations and securities do ... Nothing to See Here, Move Along …
Antitrust Week in Chicago
Speaking of law and economics in Chicago, its the place to be for antitrust next week. On Thursday, the FTC at 100 series will continue at Northwestern University School of Law where I’ll be on a panel discussing the FTC’s competition mission after lunch along with Thomas Campbell, Randy Picker, and Robert Pratt. The antitrust ... Antitrust Week in Chicago
Bainbridge on Law & Economics at Chicago
Motivated by Justice Scalia’s remark (HT: Brian Leiter) that the University of Chicago Law School is not what it once was and “has lost the niche it once had as a rigorous and conservative law school,” Professor Bainbridge notes that: It’s certainly true that, from the outside, Chicago now looks like your run of the ... Bainbridge on Law & Economics at Chicago
Odd FTC Consent in Vertical Licensing Case
The FTC announced a complaint today challenging Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co.’s proposed acquisition of an exclusive sublicense from Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, who is in turn a wholly owned subsidiary of a Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo Company. The sublicense would allow Fresenius to manufacturer and supply the intravenous iron drug Venofer to dialysis clinics in ... Odd FTC Consent in Vertical Licensing Case
An Unsurprising Result
The Irish Competition Authority releases a report offering the stunning finding that “The retail planning system limits competition among grocery retailers and as a result consumers are not getting the best possible choice or value for money.” HT: Danny Sokol. The retail planning system apparently imposes restrictions on retailer size, location, and other dimensions of ... An Unsurprising Result
Baker on the Dueling Bush Administration Antitrust Agencies
Jonathan Baker (American) has a column at The New Republic focusing on a different aspect of the FTC vs. DOJ scuffles over antitrust policy. Baker claims that the DOJ is engaging in what he describes as “deregulatory radicalism that allows monopolies to spin out of control,” while he is largely supportive of FTC policies. Baker ... Baker on the Dueling Bush Administration Antitrust Agencies
Inter-Agency Scuffling Over Section 2: What Role for Economists and Economics at the FTC and DOJ?
Much has already been written about the strained relationship between the FTC and DOJ in antitrust matters. There is no more entertaining description of these strains than Chairman Kovacic’s description of the sister agencies as “an archipelago of policy makers with very inadequate ferry service between the islands” and “too many instances when you go ... Inter-Agency Scuffling Over Section 2: What Role for Economists and Economics at the FTC and DOJ?
Best Paper Title at CELS?
Unfortunately, I’m missing this year’s Conference on Empirical Legal Studies at Cornell. But I spent the morning skimming the program and came across the following from Ilya Beylin & Anup Malani: Finding Love in the Wreckage: Estimating Spousal Altruism with Data on Fatal Car Accidents. Here is a link to the SSRN version and here ... Best Paper Title at CELS?
