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Geoffrey A. Manne

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H-index: 9

Reposted by: Geoffrey A. Manne

kayjebelli.bsky.social
There's an absolutely fantastic paper on this by Dirk Auer and @geoffmanne.bsky.social that really deserves its own separate thread, but it "identifies a sharp divergence between the online platforms that authorities want and those that emerge organically." laweconcenter.org/resources/o...
On the Origin of Platforms: An Evolutionary Perspective - International Center for Law & Economics
Abstract Hardly a day goes by without news of some proposed intervention by competition authorities into the digital economy. In recent years, enforcers in both . . .
laweconcenter.org
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by Geoffrey A. Manne — Reposted by: Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
The push for aggressive labor antitrust enforcement is growing, but is it backed by solid evidence? At Truth on the Market, @briancalbrecht.bsky.social and I argue that the case for expanded labor antitrust is (at least so far) weaker than proponents claim. 🧵
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
Read the full post by @briancalbrecht.bsky.social & me here: truthonthemarket.com/2024/12/18/.... And our paper, "Labor Monopsony and Antitrust Enforcement: A Distorting Mirror", w/ Dirk Auer expanding considerably on the points in the post, here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers...
Labor Antitrust: A Solution in Search of Evidence
The growing focus on labor-market power and antitrust enforcement has sparked important debates about both the empirical foundations and practical implementation of these emerging policy priorities. In a recent piece for ProMarket, Eric Posner argues that overwhelming academic evidence supports expanding antitrust scrutiny of labor markets—criticizing, in particular, the skepticism expressed by the Federal Trade ... Labor Antitrust: A Solution in Search of Evidence
truthonthemarket.com
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
Labor-market harms should be considered in antitrust enforcement. But effective policy requires sound evidence and practical tools — not premature, economy-wide changes. Sweeping reforms based on limited evidence risk imposing high costs with little benefit.
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
The FTC’s proposed HSR rule changes would have imposed considerable compliance costs, requiring firms to report labor data with little analytical value. Even workplace-safety violations were included — without evidence linking them to market power.
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
Defining relevant labor markets for antitrust is another challenge. Take the FTC’s Kroger/Albertsons case: it defined a market for “union grocery labor,” ignoring competition from non-union jobs and other industries. This narrow definition doesn’t reflect reality.
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
Meanwhile, the models & measures used in labor economics weren't developed with antitrust enforcement in mind and may not capture the antitrust-relevant complexities. Holyoak is right to suggest caution, and Posner is wrong to take her to task for doing so.
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
In fairness, a recent BLS study finds higher concentration by some measures. But that's the point: at best we really don't know; the evidence certainly isn't overwhelming. www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/20....
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
Beyond these few studies, it's not even clear that labor-market concentration is a significant concern. Labor-market concentration has actually declined over time, as shown by @kevinrinz.bsky.social and others. Claims of pervasive employer dominance are overstated.
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
The studies cited by Posner — which do indeed constitute the bulk of the direct evidence — show *context-specific* effects, not broad evidence of systemic labor-market harm from mergers. The empirical base linking mergers to wage suppression is remarkably thin.
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Reposted by: Geoffrey A. Manne

crampell.bsky.social
CBO releases estimates for how tariff Trump tariffs affect prices & GDP.
The combination of a uniform increase in tariffs of 10% +
additional 50% on goods imported from China would
increase the level of the PCE price index by roughly 1%, and reduce real GDP by 0.6%
www.cbo.gov/publication/....
Effects of Illustrative Policies That Would Increase Tariffs
CBO provides a preliminary assessment of the budgetary, economic, and distributional effects of three policies that would raise tariff rates on goods imported into the United States.
www.cbo.gov
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
The speaker lineup for our Jan. 17 "Substance Over Slogans" antitrust event in Paris is phenomenal, IMHO. Registration is open and spots are filling up!

More info/registration here: laweconcenter.org/events/subs...
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
Final results here: web.cvent.com/event/39143...

by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
Wow! Huge congratulations to ICLE board member, ICLE academic affiliate, and UChicago Law prof., Todd Henderson, on his victory over an incredibly tough field of competitors in the George Mason LEC Manne Madness Tournament!!
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by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
FTC and DOJ Withdraw Guidelines for Collaboration Among Competitors
Today, the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division (DOJ) jointly announced the withdrawal of the Antitrust Guidelines for Collaborations Among Competitors (Collabor
www.ftc.gov

by Geoffrey A. Manne

geoffmanne.bsky.social
One month before a new admin., w/ no replacement, & no guidance. Oh, no, I'm sorry; there's this:

"[Collaborators] are encouraged to review the relevant statutes and caselaw to assess whether a collaboration would violate the law."

www.ftc.gov/news-events...
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by Michael R. Strain — Reposted by: Geoffrey A. Manne

michaelrstrain.bsky.social
1/ The attached paragraph, from @noahpinion.blogsky.venki.dev's newsletter this morning, is in my view largely correct. This isn't the point of Noah's newsletter, but reading that paragraph made me think two steps further.
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Reposted by: Geoffrey A. Manne

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Reposted by: Geoffrey A. Manne

briancalbrecht.bsky.social
“Substance Over Slogans: Strengthening the Foundations of Antitrust”

Join us in Paris on Jan. 17, 2025, for an incredible event!
laweconcenter.org/events/subst...
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Reposted by: Geoffrey A. Manne

techfreedom.org
The Department of Justice wants to redesign the iPhone ecosystem. What could possibly go wrong!

On the latest Tech Policy Podcast, ICLE's president @geoffmanne.bsky.social returns to discuss the ins and outs of the DoJ’s Apple antitrust case.

podcast.techfreedom.org/episodes/390...
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