Question

Briefly summarize the contents of the 5 key anti-trust laws. and what are the two government agencies that enforce anti-trust law in the u.s

Answer 1

Antitrust laws are legislation that regulate the distribution of economic power in industry, ensuring that healthy competition flourishes and that economies expand. Antitrust regulations extend to nearly all industries and markets, affecting all industry types, including manufacturing, shipping, distribution, and marketing.

The Sherman Antitrust Act was promulgated in 1890. This is the central regulation concerning competition on the free market. In order to create a monopoly, this act prohibits contracts and conspiracies which damage competition.

The Clayton Act is a civil statute designed to protect competition due to certain business practices, acquisitions and mergers, and to prevent skyrocketing prices. The act effectively gives the government the power to counter large-scale corporate revolutions, thereby building a barrier against the formation of monopolies too.

The Federal Trade Commission Act, passed in 1914, is also a civil law. This act ensures healthy interstate-trade rivalry.Preis discrimination is regulated by the 1936 Robinson-Patman Act. The aim is to protect small businesses by restricting the ability of big companies to take advantage of their buying power to order unfair rebates.

Both the FTC and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division enforce the federal antitrust laws.

Their roles differ in some ways but the two entities complement each other in practice. The organizations have established experience over the years, unique to sectors or markets. Of example, the FTC devotes much of its resources to other sectors of the economy, including those where consumer spending is high: health care, pharmacy, medical services, food, electricity, and certain high-tech industries such as information technology and Internet services. The agencies coordinate with each other before launching an investigation to prevent duplication of efforts. "The department" in this document means either the FTC or DOJ, whichever performs the antitrust investigation.