Today’s Antitrust Battles Are Actually Anti-Consumer

On a recent Price of Business, Host Kevin Price visited with Robert Bork, Jr. about the current antitrust battles in the US and how they are actually anti-consumer.

Much of the conversation centered on Bork’s father’s work that created a pro-consumer paradigm shift in antitrust law.

Robert H. Bork, Jr., is the President of the Antitrust Education Project. He also heads the Bork Group, a public affairs agency. Bork is an experienced advocate specializing in the development and implementation of communication strategies in support of litigation and legal policy.

Robert Bork’s “The Antitrust Paradox,” published in 1978, revolutionized antitrust law by introducing the consumer welfare standard. Bork argued that antitrust enforcement should prioritize consumer interests, focusing on efficiency, innovation, and lower prices. This approach shifted the focus away from protecting competitors and towards ensuring the well-being of consumers.

Bork’s pro-consumer perspective remains highly relevant today. In the digital age, where tech giants dominate markets, his emphasis on economic analysis and empirical evidence provides a crucial framework for evaluating antitrust cases. Additionally, his skepticism towards structural remedies, like breaking up companies, continues to spark debate about the most effective ways to promote competition and protect consumer interests in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.