January 14, 2021

Introductory Post: Retrospective on Ajit Pai’s Tenure as FCC Chairman

Kristian Stout

Ajit Pai will step down from his position as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) effective Jan. 20. Beginning Jan. 15, Truth on the Market will host a symposium exploring Pai’s tenure, with contributions from a range of scholars and practitioners.

Telecommunications

October 27, 2020

tl;dr - Online Intermediaries and “Know Your Business Customer” Requirements

Julian Morris & Kristian Stout

It comes as no surprise to anyone that illegal conduct occurs online. Unfortunately, the individuals and businesses engaging in illegal activity may avoid detection by using tools that hide their identity. This makes enforcement difficult or even impossible.

Innovation & The New Economy

September 12, 2020

TPRI Conference on Technology and Declining Economic Dynamism Acquisitions by Dominant Firms

Geoffrey A. Manne & Dirk Auer & Alec Stapp

TPRI Conference Slides on Killer Acquisitions & Kill Zones

Antitrust & Consumer Protection

April 29, 2020

The Ghosts of Antitrust Past

Alec Stapp

PPI Director of Technology Policy, Alec Stapp reviews the antitrust cases against IBM, AT&T, and Microsoft and discusses what we can learn from them today. He explains the relevant concepts necessary for understanding the history of market competition in the tech industry.

Antitrust & Consumer Protection

April 20, 2020

ICLE Submission to Digital Advertising Services Inquiry

Samuel Bowman & Geoffrey A. Manne

The purpose of this submission is to highlight some of the findings of the relevant scholarship to help to inform the ACCC’s work, and to highlight some of the problems that may arise during the course of the study, given the misconceptions about competition between advertising-funded digital platforms that are common in the media and popular debate today.

Antitrust & Consumer Protection

January 18, 2020

Towards a Theory of Market Power

Mark Jamison

This paper analyzes the question of market power. Longstanding definitions and analytical tools are inadequate because they conflate conditions under which a firm has unbeneficial control over its markets (market power) with situations where firms are successful because they are superior in how they serve customers (expanding consumer welfare).

Antitrust & Consumer Protection

July 1, 2019

10 Reasons Why the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Is Going to Be a Dumpster Fire

Alec Stapp

Last year, real estate developer Alastair Mactaggart spent nearly $3.5 million to put a privacy law on the ballot in California’s November election. He then negotiated a deal with state lawmakers to withdraw the ballot initiative if they passed their own privacy bill. That law — the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) — was enacted after only seven days of drafting and amending.

Data Security & Privacy

June 30, 2019

Concluding Comments: The Weaknesses of Interventionist Claims (FTC Hearings, ICLE Comment 11)

Dirk Auer & Geoffrey A. Manne & Julian Morris & Alec Stapp & Kristian Stout

FTC Hearings on Competition & Consumer Protection in the 21st Century. Comments of the International Center for Law & Economics: Summing Up the FTC Hearings: Advocates for Increased Antitrust Intervention Failed to Make Their Case. Submitted Jun 30, 2019.

Antitrust & Consumer Protection

May 31, 2019

Toward a Proper Understanding of Consumer Privacy and Its Regulation (FTC Hearings, ICLE Comment 10)

Geoffrey A. Manne & Kristian Stout & Dirk Auer & Alec Stapp

FTC Hearings on Competition & Consumer Protection in the 21st Century. Comments of the International Center for Law & Economics: Toward a Proper Understanding of Consumer Privacy and Its Regulation: Market Realities and the Consumer Welfare Costs of Abandoning Regulatory Restraint. Hearing #12 (Apr. 9-10). Submitted May 31, 2019.

Antitrust & Consumer Protection