EconWorks Podcast

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Industrial organization insights on antitrust, digital platforms, and competition in ecosystem markets. blog.econworks.com

  1. The $2.5 Billion Question in Pharmaceutical Antitrust

    2d ago

    The $2.5 Billion Question in Pharmaceutical Antitrust

    In this episode, we examine the economic foundations of reverse-payment antitrust law through the lens of the Takeda verdict. The Supreme Court’s *Actavis* decision shifted the focus from patent validity to payment size—but left unresolved how courts should measure what counts as “large.” We explore the circularity embedded in the framework, the role of damages models, and why jury decisions may ultimately substitute for missing economic methods. Read the full article and the graphic analysis: https://blog.econworks.com/p/the-885-million-question-actavis?r=562wri Explore more visual economics content: EconWorks YouTube Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe

    22 min
  2. Google’s Ad Tech Empire Under the Microscope: AI Antitrust Critique

    3d ago

    Google’s Ad Tech Empire Under the Microscope: AI Antitrust Critique

    In this episode, we talk about the complexities of digital advertising in the US. DOJ v. Google ad tech case. Google’s integrated platform dominates ad servers, exchanges, and networks, and critics have accused it of excluding rivals. The AI looks at the main expert arguments about auctions, vertical integration, and market power and compares the criticism to the trial evidence. In this episode we unpack important but technical concepts like header bidding and multi-homing and put them in plain English. We also take a new look at one of the biggest ongoing antitrust battles in tech. Read the full article and the graphic analysis: https://blog.econworks.com/p/ai-v-judge-episode-4-united-states?r=562wri Explore more visual economics content: EconWorks YouTube Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe

    23 min
  3. When Does Sharing Data Become the Same Thing as Fixing Prices?

    May 29

    When Does Sharing Data Become the Same Thing as Fixing Prices?

    This episode explores the DOJ’s settlement with Agri Stats and the growing antitrust debate surrounding information sharing, algorithmic pricing, and AI coordination. The discussion covers: * why collusion is unstable, * how monitoring systems sustain coordination, * the role of AI pricing algorithms, *and why future antitrust cases may become increasingly difficult to detect and prove. Read the full article and the graphic analysis: https://blog.econworks.com/p/when-does-sharing-data-become-the?r=562wri Explore more visual economics content: EconWorks YouTube Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe

    25 min
  4. The Handbag Merger That Sparked Debate: AI Critiques FTC v. Tapestry

    May 28

    The Handbag Merger That Sparked Debate: AI Critiques FTC v. Tapestry

    This episode turns to the FTC’s attempt to block the Tapestry (Coach) and Capri (Michael Kors, Kate Spade) merger. The central fight was over how to define the relevant market—a narrow “accessible luxury” segment or something much broader? Using AI, we critique the expert report’s data choices, market framing, and economic analysis, then see how it stacked up against the court’s real-world assessment. This episode explores brand differentiation, consumer behavior, and the challenges of merger review in consumer goods. It’s a fascinating case that reveals a lot about current FTC strategy. Read the full article and the graphic analysis: Explore more visual economics content: EconWorks YouTube Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe

    20 min
  5. The Texas Anesthesia Stealth Monopoly

    May 22

    The Texas Anesthesia Stealth Monopoly

    This episode of EconWorks looks at one of the most important recent tests of serial acquisition enforcement: the FTC's lawsuit against U.S. Anesthesia Partners. The conversation looks at: * Rollups in healthcare * Definition of the market, * Leverage in negotiations, * Consolidation economics, * and the challenge of reestablishing competitiveness once markets have already changed due to past acquisitions. Significant legal and economic issues remain unsolved because the parties settled the case before the trial. Read the full article and graphic analysis: Explore more visual economics content: EconWorks YouTube Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe

    22 min
  6. AI Takes on the Apple App Store Market Definition Debate

    May 21

    AI Takes on the Apple App Store Market Definition Debate

    Was the App Store an iOS-only monopoly or was it in a highly competitive multiplatform market? In episode two of the AI v. Judge series, AI takes a deep dive into the epic expert report in Epic v. Apple, including the fight over central market definition. We compare the AI assessment directly to the actual ruling of the court. The podcast features a comparison of broad and narrow marketplaces. Read the full article and the graphic analysis: Explore more visual economics content: EconWorks YouTube Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe

    22 min
  7. The Dollar Seventy Two vs Ticketmaster

    May 1

    The Dollar Seventy Two vs Ticketmaster

    Have you ever wondered if anything will actually change the way we buy concert tickets? In this episode, we break down the monumental shift in the fight against Live Nation-Ticketmaster. For over a decade, the debate around Ticketmaster relied on the constraints of a 2010 negotiated settlement with the DOJ, where core economic questions were never fully adjudicated. Now, the story has changed. We discuss the recent landmark case where a jury officially found that Live Nation-Ticketmaster possessed monopoly power, engaged in exclusionary conduct, and caused consumer harm. Tune in as we unpack the details of the “Antitrust Decision Funnel” and explain why determining liability is just the beginning. We explore the jury’s estimation of a $1.72 (or 1-3%) ticket overcharge and discuss how this magnitude of harm will influence the judge’s ultimate decision on remedies, which could range from damages to structural breakups. Finally, we compare the U.S. antitrust path—which seeks to restore competitive conditions—to alternative approaches, like Ontario’s direct price regulation that caps resale tickets at face value. If you want to understand the economics, the law, and what this verdict actually means for your next concert, this episode is for you! For a full article and graphic examination of this case, click this link: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe

    22 min
  8. The Chaos of Unintended Consequences in Antitrust

    Apr 30

    The Chaos of Unintended Consequences in Antitrust

    Managing deeply integrated, complex systems requires a careful balance. When regulators pull out their toolkit, the results are rarely simple. Join us as we look at both sides of the modern competition debate and the practical realities of trying to “fix” global markets. Key Discussion Points: * The Case for Intervention: Breaking price chokeholds and preventing consumer “lock-in”. * The Risks of Regulation: Visualizing the compliance trap and system-wide performance degradation. * The “Rescued” Competitor: Why the DOJ’s win against the JetBlue/Spirit merger resulted in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. * Global Competition: How blocking domestic mergers like Tapestry/Capri may handicap American brands against European conglomerates. Call to Action: This series is reader-supported. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at EconWorks to support our work. What do you think—are regulators getting it right, or is the cure worse than the disease? For a full article and visual examination of this situation, click this link: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe

    21 min
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Industrial organization insights on antitrust, digital platforms, and competition in ecosystem markets. blog.econworks.com

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  • Creator
    EconWorks
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    37
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    © EconWorks Consulting Inc.
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