Libertarian
Free Delivery on Trial: Lina Khan and the FTC Go After Amazon | Libertarian: Richard Epstein | Hoover Institution
Oct 6, 2023
Richard Epstein discusses an antitrust suit against Amazon by the FTC and several states. They explore the complexity of breaking up Amazon, Amazon's pricing strategies, the role of Amazon Prime, and future scenarios. They also discuss the consequences of imposing fines on businesses.
26:49
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Amazon's lack of predatory pricing strategies and success in building infrastructure counterarguments against breaking up the company.
- The practice of prioritizing Amazon's own products on its platform is not necessarily anti-competitive and driven by market forces and consumer preferences.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Breaking Up Amazon
There is a debate over breaking up Amazon, with arguments for both maintaining its dominance and pursuing antitrust action. One argument against breakup is the lack of evidence for predatory pricing strategies that eliminate competition. While predation could work with a single firm, it is unlikely in Amazon's case. Furthermore, the company has been successful in building infrastructure and maintaining low prices. Another argument is that prioritizing Amazon's own products on its platform is not necessarily anti-competitive as it can result in efficiency and cost benefits. The current antitrust case against Amazon lacks strong evidence of anti-competitive practices.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
