On July 15, the Federal Cabinet approved a draft bill for a further reform of competition law. It is aimed at making limited changes and simplifications. The Bundestag will consider the bill after the summer recess. We welcome some specific improvements. In other areas, however, we see a need for further refinement and missed opportunities.
A new study by Rebalance Now and Misereor shows: A few corporations are increasingly controlling agricultural supply chains. This drives up prices, puts small farms at a disadvantage and encourages unfair trade practices. We are therefore calling for stricter scrutiny of large mergers and better rules against unfair trading practices.
Competition authorities have been hesitant to use structural remedies in the recent past. This background paper documents that breakups are a perfectly feasible instrument of competition policy, with a track record of effectively tackling competition concerns.
Aline Blankertz in a KNA interview about digital monopolies and the current antitrust proceedings against Google & Co., courtesy of the KNA media service
Do the election manifestos of the major parties have the power of the big companies in mind? What do they say about the monopoly power of the big tech companies and their dominance in AI? How do they view market power in the food sector, unfair trade practices and inflation? How would you like to develop competition law further?
Following a historic ruling in August, another monopoly case against Google began in the USA on September 9. Here we explain what could be in store for Google – and why Europe should also dare to unbundle more.
The Balanced Economy Project advocates splitting up powerful companies. The new study “Breaking the Giants of Harm” provides an introduction to the instrument of unbundling.
Fourteen NGOs from all over Europe are calling for a change of course in EU competition policy in a manifesto published today. The current approach is not effective enough to prevent the concentration of power.
The NGO alliance “Initiative Konzernmacht beschränken” is calling on the German government and the Federal Cartel Office to take clear measures against the market power of food retailers.
Large companies dominate the economy and our everyday lives. This introduction highlights the negative consequences and describes political instruments and starting points for limiting monopoly power.
