Author(s)
Stephen Haber,
F. Scott Kieff and Troy Paredes
Source
San Jose Mercury News, March 15, 2007, pg. 12A
Summary
This op-ed looks at the European Union’s case against Microsoft.
Policy Relevance
When competition policy gives officials broad discretion, abuses are likely, and harm growth and trade.
Main Points
- The European Union’s economic case against Microsoft was very weak, and had no reasonable justification.
- This suggests that European competition authorities used competition law as a pretext for “shaking down” Microsoft.
- Such actions benefited the regulators by enhancing their reputations and/or made their agency more important.
