President Biden recently issued the Executive Order on Competition which aims to break up corporate power across the economy—proposing antitrust initiatives at more than a dozen federal agencies including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This week’s episode explores the executive order, the history, ideals, and legal principles behind it, and its potential impact. Host Jeffrey Rosen was joined by William Kovacic, former chair of the FTC and professor at GW Law, and Barry Lynn, executive director of the Open Markets Institute.
FULL PODCAST
This episode was produced by Jackie McDermott and engineered by Greg Scheckler. Research was provided by Alexandra “Mac” Taylor, Olivia Gross, and Lana Ulrich.
TRANSCRIPT:
DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT HERE.
This transcript may not be in its final form, accuracy may vary, and it may be updated or revised in the future.
PARTICIPANTS
Barry C. Lynn is Executive Director of the Open Markets Institute. He is the author of Liberty from All Masters: The New American Autocracy vs. the Will of the People.
William E. Kovacic is Global Competition Professor of Law and Policy; Professor of Law; and Director of the Competition Law Center at GW Law. He was previously a member and chair of the Federal Trade Commission. His most recent book is Global Competition Enforcement: New Players, New Challenges.
Jeffrey Rosen is the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization devoted to educating the public about the U.S. Constitution. Rosen is also professor of law at The George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy
- Barry C. Lynn, Liberty from All Masters: The New American Autocracy vs. the Will of the People
- William E. Kovacic, Global Competition Enforcement: New Players, New Challenges
- Lina Khan, "Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox"
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