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Freedom to Trade and the Competitive Process

Author

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  • Aaron Edlin
  • Joseph Farrell

Abstract

Although antitrust courts sometimes stress the competitive process, they have not deeply explored what that process is. Inspired by the theory of the core, we explore the idea that the competitive process is the process of sellers and buyers forming improving coalitions. Much of antitrust can be seen as prohibiting firms' attempts to restrain improving trade between their rivals and customers. In this way, antitrust protects firms' and customers' freedom to trade to their mutual betterment.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaron Edlin & Joseph Farrell, 2011. "Freedom to Trade and the Competitive Process," NBER Working Papers 16818, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:16818
    Note: IO LE
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    File URL: http://www.nber.org/papers/w16818.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Roman Inderst & Greg Shaffer, 2010. "Market‐share contracts as facilitating practices," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 41(4), pages 709-729, December.
    2. Joseph Farrell & Janis Pappalardo & Howard Shelanski, 2010. "Economics at the FTC: Mergers, Dominant-Firm Conduct, and Consumer Behavior," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 37(4), pages 263-277, December.
    3. Sjostrom, William, 1989. "Collusion in Ocean Shipping: A Test of Monopoly and Empty Core Model s," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 97(5), pages 1160-1179, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Michael L. Katz, 2019. "Platform economics and antitrust enforcement: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 138-152, January.
    2. Christian G. Asmussen & Kirsten Foss & Nicolai J. Foss & Peter G. Klein, 2021. "Economizing and strategizing: How coalitions and transaction costs shape value creation and appropriation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(2), pages 413-434, February.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D2 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations
    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design
    • K2 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law
    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior
    • L4 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies
    • L5 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy
    • M2 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics

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