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Tech Won't Save Us

Will Google’s Monopoly Be Broken Up? w/ Rob Larson

Sep 19, 2024
Rob Larson, author and economics professor, dives into Google's recent antitrust ruling and its potential consequences. He compares it to the Microsoft case from the early 2000s, highlighting the challenges of enforcing antitrust laws in tech. Topics include the complexities of Google's monopolistic practices, proposals for remedies like choice screens, and radical ideas around expropriation and nationalization of tech giants. Larson also addresses the influence of wealthy tech donors on politics and media bias against antitrust reform.
01:03:36

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The recent ruling against Google emphasizes a shift in antitrust enforcement focusing on monopolistic behaviors, not just consumer pricing effects.
  • Historical leniency in U.S. antitrust law poses significant challenges for effectively regulating dominant tech firms like Google and Microsoft.

Deep dives

The Monopoly Dynamics of Google

Google's recent ruling as a monopolist highlights how market forces can create dominant positions while allowing the company to maintain its power through questionable practices. The judge's verdict primarily centered on Google's tactics to uphold its monopoly in online search, which included paying technology partners to secure default status for its services. This ruling indicates a shift in antitrust enforcement, focusing on behaviors that entrench monopolistic power, rather than solely on price increases for consumers. The unique aspect of Google's model is that its offerings are free at the point of service, complicating the perception of consumer harm linked to its monopolization.

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