US

Antitrust and International Competition

The European Union often uses its antitrust powers to protect EU-based firms from international competition, rather than to promote greater competition in European markets.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Acemoglu
Daron Acemoglu
MIT
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Vigorous anti-trust policy from EU is critical for competition. Question implies domestic bias is EU-specific. US policy is no different.
Alesina
Alberto Alesina
Harvard Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Altonji
Joseph Altonji
Yale
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Auerbach
Alan Auerbach
Berkeley
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Autor
David Autor
MIT
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Baicker
Katherine Baicker
University of Chicago
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Banerjee
Abhijit Banerjee
MIT
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
It clearly happens but I have no idea of whether it is often or rarely relative to the demand for such protection.
Bertrand
Marianne Bertrand
Chicago
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
Brunnermeier
Markus Brunnermeier
Princeton
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Panelist misread the question: meant to Strongly Disagree
Chetty
Raj Chetty
Harvard Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Chevalier
Judith Chevalier
Yale
Uncertain
8
Bio/Vote History
There are some outlier cases (GE-Honeywell) but I am not convinced that it is a systemic problem.
-see background information here
Cutler
David Cutler
Harvard
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Deaton
Angus Deaton
Princeton
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
Not sure what "often" means. Sure it has happened, but doubt it is the majority of cases.
Duffie
Darrell Duffie
Stanford
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Edlin
Aaron Edlin
Berkeley Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Eichengreen
Barry Eichengreen
Berkeley
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Einav
Liran Einav
Stanford
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Fair
Ray Fair
Yale
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Finkelstein
Amy Finkelstein
MIT Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Goldberg
Pinelopi Goldberg
Yale Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Goolsbee
Austan Goolsbee
Chicago
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Greenstone
Michael Greenstone
University of Chicago
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Hall
Robert Hall
Stanford
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
The EC's main objective is to hobble American companies. The GE-Honeywell merger denial is an example, a beneficial merger of complements.
Hart
Oliver Hart
Harvard
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Holmström
Bengt Holmström
MIT
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Hoxby
Caroline Hoxby
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Hoynes
Hilary Hoynes
Berkeley
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Judd
Kenneth Judd
Stanford
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Kaplan
Steven Kaplan
Chicago Booth
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Kashyap
Anil Kashyap
Chicago Booth
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
disclosure i am an official of the bank of england, no comment on this
Klenow
Pete Klenow
Stanford
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Levin
Jonathan Levin
Stanford
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Maskin
Eric Maskin
Harvard
Disagree
4
Bio/Vote History
Studies I've seen don't support this hypothesis. But I'm hardly an expert myself.
Nordhaus
William Nordhaus
Yale
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Saez
Emmanuel Saez
Berkeley
Disagree
2
Bio/Vote History
Samuelson
Larry Samuelson
Yale
Disagree
4
Bio/Vote History
I am not certain, but view EU antitrust policy as sometimes protecting European firms, and often promoting competition.
Scheinkman
José Scheinkman
Columbia University
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Schmalensee
Richard Schmalensee
MIT
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Sometimes, sure, but the most visible cases against US firms don't involve EU competitors. Potential EU entry may be a concern.
Shapiro
Carl Shapiro
Berkeley Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Shimer
Robert Shimer
University of Chicago
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Stock
James Stock
Harvard
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Thaler
Richard Thaler
Chicago Booth
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Udry
Christopher Udry
Northwestern
Disagree
4
Bio/Vote History