Question

Briefly describe a merger or acquisition that has been in the news within the past year and provide a link to the information. 
What is the economic justification for the merger? 
Does the merger or acquisition substantially reduce competition? 
Will the industry tend to remain competitive after the merger, or will it tend to become more concentrated (as with an oligopoly or monopoly)? 
Will consumers benefit from the merger or acquisition?

Answer 1

Briefly describe a merger or acquisition that has been in the news within the past year and provide a link to the information.

Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for $ 26 billion. It will help Microsoft to diversify its business activities. Microsoft would be pushing LinkedIn to make it a online job search portal. This deal was criticized and termed as misguided. But these critics do not pay heed towards the long run impacts.

Reference:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/03/29/microsofts-acquisition-of-linkedin-changed-the-job-search-industry-in-ways-we-dont-even-know-yet/#bfbba4341300

What is the economic justification for the merger?

Merger creates economies of scale and it lowers production cost substantially. It may lead to rise in consumer welfare in long run.

Does the merger or acquisition substantially reduce competition?

Merger can reduce competition if such merger creates monopoly or single firm tends to control disproportionate share in market.

Will the industry tend to remain competitive after the merger, or will it tend to become more concentrated (as with an oligopoly or monopoly)?

If there are left few dominant firms in market, then merger shall lead to rise in cut throat competition. If there remains one or two firms, then monopoly or tacit monopoly will undermine competition.

Will consumers benefit from the merger or acquisition?

Increase in service or production and fall in prices or cost shall definitely increase welfare of people.