How Antitrust Enforcement Drives Economic Growth

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of antitrust enforcement on economic growth with insights from award-winning research.

Philip Drummond , an Associate at The Brattle Group specializing in securities litigation and capital markets, welcomes Kate Volkova , an Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Melbourne, to discuss her award-winning research on antitrust enforcement. Kate’s expertise spans corporate governance and regulatory oversight, with a particular focus on the impacts of regulator actions on corporate policies and dynamics. In this episode, Philip and Kate delve into “Antitrust Enforcement Increases Economic Activity,” a paper examining the economic effects of US Department of Justice antitrust suits from the 1970s onward. Kate and her coauthors won the 2024 Brattle Group FIRN Best Paper Award at the Australian Financial Research Network’s Annual Conference for their work. Kate details how the team compiled a comprehensive dataset of DOJ lawsuits and uncovered evidence that robust antitrust action fosters new business entry, employment, and rising wages. The conversation also highlights methodological challenges and the wider economic policy implications of enforcing competition. The opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of their…

People in this episode

Host: Philip Drummond

Guest: Kate Volkova

Topics covered

• antitrust enforcement
• economic growth
• corporate governance
• regulatory oversight
• employment
• wages

Keywords

• antitrust
• economic activity
• DOJ lawsuits
• business entry
• employment
• wages
• regulatory impact

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Brattle Group, University of Melbourne, US Department of Justice

Books & works: Antitrust Enforcement Increases Economic Activity

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