Jonathan B. Baker
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jbbecon.bsky.social
Jonathan B. Baker
@jbbecon.bsky.social
920 followers 120 following 56 posts
Author, The Antitrust Paradigm: Restoring a Competitive Economy
Profile: https://www.american.edu/profiles/faculty/emer_jbaker.cfm
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jbbecon.bsky.social
My new article “Trumpian Populism and the Changing Intellectual Landscape in Antitrust: Century-Old Resonances, the New Right, and the Possible End of an Era” looks at the views of current senior antitrust enforcement officials. 1/3
November 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
timobres.bsky.social
New Working Paper! Lucky to work with Shane Greenstein @shanegreenstein.bsky.social and Pai-Ling Yin on "New Economic Forces Behind the Value Distribution of Innovation." Abstract and link follow.

lnkd.in/ew6UHk3v
Abstract of "New Economic Forces Behind the Value Distribution of Innovation." Advances in a general-purpose technology (GPT) enable many firms to invent complementary inventions, or co-inventions, making the GPT more valuable. This study examines the empirical implications of a straightforward model in which firms choose either incremental or novel co-invention. Incremental co-inventors aspire to small gains at low costs and with less uncertainty. Novel co-inventors introduce new products or services with the potential for large returns, but do so at high costs and with uncertain outcomes. Similar firms investing in incremental co-invention will create value proportional to their existing business, a benchmark we illustrate with the experiences at local radio and newspapers. The study then examines the value of co-inventions for the World Wide Web and mobile ecosystems, focusing on success in 2013, using data from many sources. This data supports analysis comparing the incremental and novel regimes. The latter should display a distinctly different up! per tail of the distribution of returns. We show that the value distributions for incremental and novel co-invention are far apart. Incremental co-invention is more widely distributed across regions, industries, and firms. Success from novel co-invention is rare, challenging, and the source of the largest value. In the aggregate, novel co-invention creates the most value, so the overall value distribution remains concentrated in a few industries, regions, and firms.
August 8, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
timobres.bsky.social
Looming problems from BLS statistics politicization. Social security benefits and many long term labor market contracts are indexed to the CPI. BLS makes the CPI. Recipients care about indexed cost of living increases, a lot.
/1
August 4, 2025 at 9:50 PM
jbbecon.bsky.social
I recently reviewed Louis Kaplow’s book "Rethinking Merger Analysis." The review evaluates the book’s discussion of market definition, coordinated effects, entry, efficiencies, and the welfare standard. Available in The Antitrust Source or at ssrn.com/abstract=533...
Looking at Merger Review from Outside an Ivory Tower
This article reviews Louis Kaplow, Rethinking Merger Analysis (MIT Press 2024). The review evaluates the book's discussion of five major topics:&
ssrn.com
July 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
proffionasm.bsky.social
Are you wondering how to make monopoly digital platforms more competitive? I have a new book with answers. Intro article here in ProMarket: www.promarket.org/2025/06/26/a...
A Pro-Competitive Handbook for Policymakers to Unlock Digital Competition - ProMarket
Fiona Scott Morton introduces her new book on how regulators and policymakers can promote competition and fairness in digital markets.
www.promarket.org
June 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
jbbecon.bsky.social
Lunch with some DC area antitrust professors. With @profgavil.bsky.social @lancierifilippo.bsky.social Dale Collins and @stevesalop.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
cepr.org
While the second Trump administration's initial moves in #antitrust enforcement suggested continuity, more recent actions outside the realm of antitrust enforcement have the potential to change #competitionpolicy dramatically, explains @jbbecon.bsky.social.
cepr.org/publications...
#EconSky
June 24, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
cepr.org
📢 New CEPR #eBook out NOW! 📚
"The Economic Consequences of the Second Trump Administration: A Preliminary Assessment"
Editors: Gary Gensler, @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social, @upanizza.bsky.social, @wederdim.bsky.social
Free download: cepr.org/publications...
#EconSky
June 18, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
proffionasm.bsky.social
I have a new book! Digital Platform Regulation. Fun analysis of what society should do to get some competition out of of our favorite gatekeeper platform. Relevant to the DMA and US antitrust remedies. And free! Download here:
som.yale.edu/centers/thur...
Digital Platform Regulation
som.yale.edu
June 4, 2025 at 9:08 PM
jbbecon.bsky.social
When AAG Slater roots her “America First Antitrust” (www.justice.gov/opa/speech/a...) in “conservative values,” she recalls judicial thinking from over a century ago. 1/5
Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater Delivers First Antitrust Address at University of Notre Dame Law School
Good afternoon. Thank you so much for having me. It is an honor to be here at Notre Dame to give my first formal address as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division. I’ve had many offers
www.justice.gov
April 29, 2025 at 2:28 PM
jbbecon.bsky.social
Six years old…and still worth reading 🙂
April 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
promarket.bsky.social
NEW: After the second Trump administration initially appeared to maintain significant continuity in antitrust enforcement, the president more recently thrust the agencies into turmoil. Those later actions create troubling risks to the economy and the rule of law, writes @jbbecon.bsky.social.
Threats to Competition Policy in the Second Trump Administration: Is Antitrust Enforcement Following Alice Down the Rabbit Hole? - ProMarket
After the second Trump administration initially appeared to maintain significant continuity in antitrust enforcement, the president more recently thrust the agencies into turmoil. Those later actions ...
www.promarket.org
April 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
jbbecon.bsky.social
Threats to Competition Policy in the Second Trump Administration: Is Antitrust Enforcement Following Alice Down the Rabbit Hole?

My new blog post: www.promarket.org/2025/04/11/t...
Threats to Competition Policy in the Second Trump Administration: Is Antitrust Enforcement Following Alice Down the Rabbit Hole? - ProMarket
After the second Trump administration initially appeared to maintain significant continuity in antitrust enforcement, the president more recently thrust the agencies into turmoil. Those later actions ...
www.promarket.org
April 11, 2025 at 12:29 PM
jbbecon.bsky.social
What do these three hypothetical examples, suggested by antitrust investigations, have in common? A thread summarizing my newly posted paper: ssrn.com/abstract=511.... 1/9
Conduct that Increases Market Power Without Lessening Competition: A Challenge for Antitrust Law
Conduct that violates the antitrust laws usually lessens competition and increases market power. But some conduct increases market power without lessening compe
ssrn.com
January 27, 2025 at 9:21 PM
jbbecon.bsky.social
How concerns about political misuse of the antitrust laws looked as the 1st Trump admin got underway, from The Antitrust Paradigm
December 18, 2024 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
sanjukta.bsky.social
Just want to plant the seed: the Antitrust Law Journal, which has a wide reach, is very serious about broadening its author base--not just in terms of identity but in terms of viewpoints/perspectives. As an ed bd member I'd love to talk with potential authors who may not have considered this option!
December 10, 2024 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
florianederer.bsky.social
Super interesting paper by @jbbecon.bsky.social on the policy impact of two of my antitrust idols (@timobres.bsky.social and @stevesalop.bsky.social)

academic.oup.com/antitrust/ad...
November 19, 2024 at 11:24 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
sherman1890.bsky.social
Good historical perspective by Jon Baker on antitrust’s use of economists, with some pushback on the theory that they either reflect or determined the rise of neoliberalism. academic.oup.com/antitrust/ad...
How economists influence antitrust: the contributions of Tim Bresnahan, Janusz Ordover, Steve Salop, and Bobby Willig
Abstract. Economists influence antitrust policy through theoretical and empirical economic research, translation and synthesis of that research, direct par
academic.oup.com
November 17, 2024 at 11:09 AM
jbbecon.bsky.social
Just published:
How economists influence antitrust: the contributions of Tim Bresnahan, Janusz Ordover, Steve Salop, and Bobby Willig. #EconSky

doi.org/10.1093/jaen...
How economists influence antitrust: the contributions of Tim Bresnahan, Janusz Ordover, Steve Salop, and Bobby Willig
Abstract. Economists influence antitrust policy through theoretical and empirical economic research, translation and synthesis of that research, direct par
doi.org
November 18, 2024 at 6:55 PM
jbbecon.bsky.social
How do economists influence antitrust? My essay frames and draws on profiles of four IO economists influential in antitrust: Tim Bresnahan (@timobres.bsky.social), Janusz Ordover, Steve Salop (@stevesalop.bsky.social), and Bobby Willig. Available at ssrn.com/abstract=4630062
How Economists Influence Antitrust:<span> </span>The Contributions of Tim Bresnahan, Janusz Ordover, Steve Salop, and Bobby Willig
<div> Economists influence antitrust policy through theoretical and empirical economic research, translation and synthesis of that research, direct participati
ssrn.com
October 4, 2024 at 2:07 PM
jbbecon.bsky.social
@proffionasm.bsky.social explain why we think market power has grown and antitrust needs strengthening, and comment on recent papers by Carl Shapiro & Ali Yurukoglu and Nathan Miller. You can find our comment @promarket.bsky.social, here: www.promarket.org/2024/10/01/m...
Market Power Has Grown and Antitrust Needs Strengthening, Despite What Shapiro & Yurukoglu and Miller Suggest - ProMarket
Jonathan B. Baker and Fiona Scott Morton challenge the interpretations of two new papers from Carl Shapiro & Ali Yurukoglu and Nathan Miller, which question economy-wide trends toward a rise in market...
www.promarket.org
October 1, 2024 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
proffionasm.bsky.social
My take on the Draghi report on competitiveness below. No conflict with competition at all - competition supports innovation, resilience, and healthy industrial policy. www.bruegel.org/first-glance...
The Draghi report and competition policy
The long-awaited Draghi report is a boost to robust competition enforcement
www.bruegel.org
September 12, 2024 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
profgavil.bsky.social
Pleased to share that the fifth edition of my antitrust law casebook with Bill Kovacic and jbbecon.bsky.social has just been published. Our field is changing and the book provides updates and new perspectives.
www.westacademic.com/Antitrust-La...
Jonathan B. Baker (@jbbecon.bsky.social)
Author, The Antitrust Paradigm: Restoring a Competitive Economy https://www.wcl.american.edu/community/faculty/profile/jbaker/bio
jbbecon.bsky.social
August 12, 2024 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
promarket.bsky.social
Our symposium has discussed the new paper, “The Political Economy of the Decline of Antitrust Enforcement in the United States.” In this article, one of the co-authors @ericposner.bsky.social responds to discussants’ critiques and comments.

www.promarket.org/2024/02/16/b...
Big Business’ Influence in the Decline of Antitrust Enforcement - ProMarket
Why has antitrust enforcement declined in the United States since the 1970s? Is it due to the preferences of voters, business influence, or an alternative explanation altogether? In this symposium, Jo...
www.promarket.org
February 16, 2024 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Jonathan B. Baker
promarket.bsky.social
Business and economic thought instituted at least since the Reagan Revolution in the US have promoted firms’ narrowly self-interested, profit-maximizing conduct. This paradigm leads to social distrust and insufficient cooperation, @stevesalop.bsky.social explains www.promarket.org/2024/02/13/w...
Why Business Should Be More Prosocial, and Ten Guidelines for How - ProMarket
Business and economic thought instituted at least since the Reagan revolution in the United States have promoted firms’ narrowly self-interested, profit-maximizing conduct even at the expense of consu...
www.promarket.org
February 13, 2024 at 4:45 PM