Competition Law and Economic Inequality

The gap between the rich and poor is widening across the globe. This book explores whether this major societal challenge of our time can be addressed by the means of competition law.<br/><br/>The primary goal of today's competition law is to ensure that market power does not lead to an inefficient production of goods and services. Nevertheless even such efficiency-oriented curbing of market power may arguably contribute to the reduction of differences in how much people own and earn. Furthermore many competition law regimes do take into account distributive considerations too.<br/><br/>The chapters investigate the relationship between competition law and economic (in)equality from philosophical historical and economic perspectives. Their inquiries concern the conceptual foundations of competition law and doctrinal frameworks of individual jurisdictions as well as specific problems and markets. As such the book provides a novel and comprehensive overview of whether and how competition law can contribute to more equality in both developed and developing countries.<br/><br/>The book is a must-read for researchers public officials judges and practitioners within the competition law community. It will also appeal to anyone more broadly interested in issues of inequality and economic policy.