Non-digital market concentration: Do we need new approaches to antitrust policy?

On Wednesday, September 21, the Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets held an event to examine antitrust policy in non-digital industries. While digital markets have received outsized attention in recent years, market concentration in more traditional industries such as agricultural production, baby formula, and health care has come under increasing criticism. When high concentration reflects a lack of competition, outcomes may include higher prices and less choice for consumers, and possible supply chain bottlenecks that impede the availability of critical products.

Timothy Wu, special assistant to the president for technology and competition policy, shared his thoughts on the Biden administration’s current antitrust policies. Following Wu’s remarks, a panel of former antitrust regulators—Brookings Visiting Fellow Bill Baer, Edith Ramirez of Hogan Lovells, and Howard Shelanski of David Polk & Wardwell and Georgetown—shared their reactions and thoughts on antitrust policy in non-digital markets.

Viewers submitted questions for speakers in advance via email at events@brookings.edu and followed along with the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #Antitrust.