Competition law and capitalism

Chase Foster

Chapter 13 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Business and Government, 2026, pp 73-78 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Competition law is a critical yet underexplored institution in the study of capitalist political economies. Traditionally analyzed through legal and economic lenses, recent scholarship in comparative political economy and law and political economy (LPE) has emphasized its role in structuring economic power and shaping market coordination. This entry examines how competition law influences producer groups, labor relations, and industrial organization by distinguishing between regulatory interventions that constrain coordination among both dominant and weaker economic actors. It also explores the “Atlantic divide” in antitrust enforcement, competition law's role in governing digital platforms, and its instrumental use as a tool of economic patriotism. Drawing on insights from critical political economy, comparative capitalism, and international political economy, this entry situates competition law as a constitutive force in capitalism, shaping economic organization and power distribution within and across jurisdictions.

Keywords: Competition Law; Market Power; Comparative Capitalism; Law and Political Economy; Digital Platforms; Regulation; Economic Patriotism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035307777
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