FTC Chief Says Social Issues Are Outside Scope of Antitrust Law

By Alexei Alexis, Bloomberg BNA

Federal Trade Commission Acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen Sept. 11 reaffirmed her support for antitrust “humility” amid public pressure for a more populist enforcement regime that reaches issues such as income and wealth inequality.

Amazon.com Inc.’s now-consummated tie-up with Whole Foods Market Inc. has added fuel to arguments that U.S. antitrust policy is in need of significant changes.

Without mentioning Amazon specifically, Ohlhausen said that some public interest groups and members of Congress are mischaracterizing many socio-economic problems as “antitrust” problems.

“There are many social and economic problems — such as income or wealth inequality between ...