How Conservative Economics Has Influenced Antitrust

This paper, written for a Georgetown University Law School conference in April 2007, addresses the allegation that "conservative" economic analyses have had a disproportionate influence on the substance and vigor of U.S. antitrust enforcement and adjudication. It acknowledges the significant impact of research associated with the University of Chicago and its satellites, much of it inspired by the critical suggestions of Aaron Director. It argues that the "Chicago" efforts have for the most part been beneficial, helping to illuminate weaknesses in accepted antitrust doctrines. Thus, a vigorous academic debate has been stimulated. To the extent that biases have resulted, they stem more from one-sided judicial interpretations of the extent theories and evidence and from the appointment of antitrust enforcement officials who take a one-sided view of the academic debate and/or who believe that "government is the problem, not the solution."