WASHINGTON, DC—The new administration faces profound challenges in antitrust and competition policy. The Bush administration adhered to a minimalist approach to antitrust based on the "Chicago School" theory that government regulation, including antitrust enforcement, more often makes mistakes and the self-correction of private markets almost always leads to the best result. The collapse of the U.S. and global economies challenges this fundamental premise on many fronts, not the least of which is antitrust. But it also leads to calls to weaken antitrust standards to sustain distressed industries. Other challenges include the novel issues raised by application of antitrust principles to technologies in the "new economy."
In light of these profound issues, what should the Obama administration’s competition policy and antitrust enforcement agenda look like?
Newly confirmed Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney will offer her preliminary thoughts on the challenges ahead for and objectives of the new administration in antitrust, followed by a panel of distinguished experts.
Keynote Speaker:
Christine Varney, Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, Department of Justice
Featured Panelists:
Caroline Holland, Chief Counsel and Staff Director, Antitrust Subcommittee, Senate Judiciary Committee
Ed Black, President, Computers and Communication Industry Association
Bert Foer, President, American Antitrust Institute
Andrew Pincus, Partner, Mayer Brown LLP
Peter Swire, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress; C. William O’Neill Professor, Moritz College of Law of the Ohio State University
Discussion moderated by:
David Balto, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Coffee will be served at 9:00 a.m.
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Location
Center for American Progress 1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor Washington, DC 20005
Map & Directions Nearest Metro: Blue/Orange Line to McPherson Square or Red Line to Metro Center
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