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Antitrust: The Case for Repeal

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Armentano analyzes and lays waste to the fallacies underlying the standard Chicago school economic analysis of monopolies, and how it has been applied by courts interpreting the antitrust laws.

This book is short and easy to read, and it is an essential supplement for anyone trying to make sense of antitrust law and economics.

Dr. Armentano's book is remarkable and indispensible. Since it it short, do not expect it to be an all-inclusive study of the entire past, present, and future of antitrust law. It is simple, straightforward logic that is often missing when analyzing complex legal problems - even from most economic work in the field.

Antitrust: The Case For Repeal looks closely at the Microsoft case and uses it almost allegorically to condemn the entire practice of antitrust law in the United States. He showcases the inherent contradictions, the arbitrary law, and the self-defeating nature of antitrust legislation. His scholarship is impeccable and the writing is smooth. This book should be a tremendous resource for any research done in the field and also excellent intellectual reading for anyone interested in a common-sense approach to antitrust.

For the length of this book (106 pages, sans index), the delivery was very concise and dense. The book is both layperson and student-friendly; the text has citations that direct a more thorough understanding of the book (including a good article by Thomas DiLorenzo concerning the Origins of Antitrust that can be had for free on mises.org), and also utilizes enough mainstream economic theory to allow students to cross-apply arguments to current economic studies.

Armentano delivers an acute, crisp take on the principles at the base of antitrust policies. He addresses widely-used assumptive errors underlying economic models used as justification for antitrust laws. And if you're wondering who benefits from antitrust: Over 90% of the cases, he explains, are begun by private companies against private companies. So much for benevolent government watching out for intellectually lackluster consumers.

Speaking of consumers, why is it that whenever antitrust advocates speak of that mystical class of individuals, inevitably they are caricatured as bereft of any sense concerning what to do with their own money? This is just one of the numerous fallacies underlying antitrust-advocates' arguments that Armentano addresses.

An excellent introduction to the basis of antitrust argumentation, with overviews of relevant court cases, and a good companion to courses in antitrust law or industrial organization.

This book is informative and enlightening. It was a good help in writing a paper for my economics class. I recommend it as good reading for any business student.

Before you waste your hype or start whining about Microsoft's case, please read this book right away, you will see how antitrust laws are in fact against you and especially your freedom of choice in a market that is supposed to be free.

You will see why the Microsoft antitrust case must be dismissed and why the US government abused its power against AT&T and others.