Competition, free markets and antitrust
Jacob Arfwedson
The issue of competition is a sensitive one: more often than not, the free market is accused of producing private “monopolies” favouring dominant market positions and high prices. Microsoft is a case in point: frequently lambasted as a bully, the software giant has become the favourite prey of regulators, politicians and anti-capitalists around the globe. The accusations sometimes shift the angle of attack, but the message is clear: this is a predator out of control and government intervention is urgent.

The European Commission did not need antiglobalist propaganda to act. The report below details the fascinating story of a “ready-made ruling”: the issue was not whether Microsoft was guilty, only to what extent and how much it should pay. We suggest the reader be the judge, by reading the paper by Istituto Bruno Leoni (Turin, Italy) and a number of other sources. Eurolibnetwork extends its thanks to the authors for their permission to reprint this important paper.

Antitrust legislation in the United States and in the European Union is increasingly impacting international economics. But as our working paper suggests, antitrust regulators on both sides of the Atlantic need to pay more heed to the rule of law and not yield to the temptation of accusing a corporation for its success based on its competitors’ wishes, without serious evidence to back up the charges.

We encourage your comments and suggestions on other material to make this research space more comprehensive and interesting.
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Free Choice: A Way to Reform the French School System
Sylvain Charat
While a real educational revolution occurs in numerous countries in the world, the French state school system is still centralized and gives no choice. Nevertheless, a recent opinion study shows that 90% of Frenchmen wish to obtain school choice for their children. An obvious step toward a possible reform.
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