Who Cans? FTC’s Trip Down the Grocery Aisle

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating U.S. retailers, attributing rising food prices to increased industry consolidation. Moving further away from the consumer welfare standard, the agency is trying to block a grocery merger that is likely to lower prices for consumers. The FTC is reportedly preparing a lawsuit under a Depression-era law banning price discrimination that has remained largely dormant because it is inconsistent with consumer benefits.

Join our panel discussion on the FTC’s recent grocery actions, where we’ll discuss the challenge to the Kroger/Albertsons merger, the agency’s report on grocery supply chains, and the potential reinstatement of the Robinson-Patman Act.

When: 12:00–13:00 EST

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Register: https://cei-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hBAsjXW3RO-SCNzEvA0mBQ

Register to join the live discussion and receive a link to the video archive after the event.

Registration confirmation and event reminder will be sent via email from CEI Events to: (email protected)

Questions: (email protected) or 202.331.2764

Alden Abbott is a senior fellow at the Mercatus Center, focusing on antitrust issues. Prior to joining Mercatus, Abbott served as general counsel to the Federal Trade Commission from 2018 to early 2021, where he represented the commission in court and provided legal advice to its agents. Before joining the FTC, Abbott worked at the Heritage Foundation, BlackBerry Ltd., and as an associate professor at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School from 1991 to 2018. Abbott has a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a master’s degree in economics from Georgetown University.

Brian Albrecht is the Chief Economist of the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE). In this position, he is responsible for the application and integration of theoretical and empirical economic methodologies in ICLE research. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Economics at the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University. Albrecht’s research focuses on price theory, information economics, competition and innovation, and political economy. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Minnesota, an M.A. in Public Policy Economics from the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, and a B.A. in Physics and Political Science from St. Olaf College.

Fred Ashton is the Director of Competition Policy at the American Action Forum. His research focuses on the analysis of regulatory and legislative proposals relating to competition, antitrust, mergers, and business consolidation. Before joining the AAF, Ashton served as a senior economist at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. He also was an international database manager at Haver Analytics, focusing on data from the International Monetary Fund, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Bank for International Settlements, and the World Bank. Ashton holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Penn State and an master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Maryland.

Alex Reinauer is a research fellow at the Center for Technology and Innovation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, focusing on technology policy and antitrust law. His work has been published in Hill, National ReviewAND “Regulations” Magazine. Reinauer holds a J.D. from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where he served as managing editor of the Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from McNeese State University.