9.8 : 独占に対する公共政策：独占禁止法（反トラスト法）

A monopolist is a single entity that dominates the market. A monopolist can control prices, slow down innovation, and limit consumer choices.

To prevent these adverse effects, governments around the world implement antitrust laws. These laws prohibit price fixing, market allocation, monopolization, tying and bundling, and exclusive dealing. They are designed to safeguard consumer interests, prevent anti-competitive practices, and ensure fair market competition.

A classic example of antitrust law is the United States versus Microsoft case in 2001. Microsoft was accused of leveraging its operating system monopoly to dominate the web browser market. The case resulted in increased scrutiny of tech giants and their market practices. After a lengthy legal battle, Microsoft increased transparency in its system.

While antitrust laws promote fair competition, they raise concerns like government over-regulation, legal uncertainties, and burdensome compliance costs. Stringent scrutiny may discourage mergers and acquisitions, hindering business innovation and growth.