Jonathan Kanter & Rethinking Antitrust for the Modern Economy
Mar 10, 2025
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In a thought-provoking conversation, Jonathan Kanter, former Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division, delves into the challenges of modern antitrust enforcement. He shares his experience tackling monopolies, particularly within Big Tech, and emphasizes the urgency of adapting antitrust laws to match today's market realities. Kanter discusses the impact of economic concentration on fairness and democracy, highlighting the need for vigorous legal action against companies like Google and Apple to foster healthy competition.
Jonathan Kanter emphasizes the necessity of rigorous antitrust enforcement in combating monopolies to ensure economic fairness and democracy.
His tenure highlights a shift in focus from merger evaluations to proactive prosecution of monopolization cases against dominant corporations.
Kanter expresses optimism about a growing bipartisan concern for corporate concentration, fostering grassroots movements for change in antitrust policy.
Deep dives
Influence of Grandfather on Life Values
The speaker describes the significant influence of his grandfather, a plumber and U.S. citizen whom he admires deeply. His grandfather embodied hard work, patriotism, and a sense of pride in contributing to society by helping to build essential infrastructure like schools. This important family figure instilled values of treating others with dignity, working hard, and standing up for what is right in the speaker from a young age. The grandparent's life story serves as a foundation for the speaker's perspective on responsibility and community involvement.
Pathway to Law School and Public Service
The speaker reflects on his journey to law school, rooted in a middle-class upbringing with teacher parents and an early interest in law through activities like mock trial. During these formative years, he fostered the belief in the American Dream, where hard work could lead to success and opportunities for all. Eventually, his experiences led him to recognize increasing concerns about economic concentration and its impact on access to the American Dream. This awareness motivated him to engage in public policy and strive to make a difference in the legal field.
Experiences at the FTC and Monopolization Awareness
While interning at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the speaker details his encounter with a significant antitrust case involving drugstore promotions, revealing the importance of diligence in uncovering misconduct. This experience reinforced his commitment to antitrust enforcement, as he believed it led to greater fairness in the business community. The realization that businesses could manipulate markets by stifling competition resonated with him, illustrating the need for vigilant enforcement of antitrust laws. These insights shaped his future work in both public and private sectors.
Shifts in Antitrust Enforcement Priorities
The speaker discusses the evolution of antitrust enforcement and the shift from focusing primarily on mergers to actively prosecuting monopolization cases. Early on, he perceived a complacency in the legal community regarding monopolization issues, which he aimed to confront during his tenure at the Department of Justice. By prioritizing high-impact antitrust investigations, he sought to challenge powerful corporations and promote fair competition. This renewed emphasis on enforcement has led to a recognition of the dangers posed by concentrated corporate power to democracy and the economy.
Optimism for the Future of Antitrust
Despite challenges in the political landscape, the speaker expresses hope regarding the future of antitrust initiatives, particularly among younger generations interested in promoting fairness and competition. He highlights the growing bipartisan concern for corporate concentration and the impact it has on society, indicating a shift toward collective action. Engaging with non-traditional voices has proven fruitful in amplifying the discourse around antitrust enforcement and its significance. Ultimately, he believes that a grassroots movement for change is gaining momentum, which will drive future progress in this critical area of public policy.
I talk to Jonathan Kanter who served as the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 2021 to 2024.
Kanter discusses his experiences at the FTC and DOJ, emphasizing the need for rigorous antitrust enforcement, especially as modern markets have evolved and become dominated by Big Tech.
He highlights the importance of confronting monopolies to protect economic fairness, innovation, democracy, and freedom, and explains how he prioritized impactful cases against major corporations like Google, Apple, Ticketmaster, and others.
Reflecting on his tenure, he stresses adapting antitrust laws to current market realities, warns about the dangers of economic concentration, and expresses the need for support for robust antitrust enforcement to maintain healthy competition and democracy.
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