Assignment:
Paper Topic Examples:
Price Fixing: Addyston Pipe and Steel Company v. United States (1898)
Predatory Pricing: Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp. (1986)
Predatory Pricing: Brooke Group. v. Brown and Williamson Tobacco (1993)
Tying: International Salt Co. Inc v. United States (1947)
Tying: Siegal et al. v. Chicken Delight, Inc. et al. (1971)
Cartel (Explosives): United States v. ICI Explosives USA Inc. (1995)
Cartel (Vitamins): United States v. F. Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd (1999)
Bidding Ring (Stamps): Ny et al. v. Feldman et al (2004)
Bidding Ring (Antiques): U.S. v. Ronald Pook (1988)
Monopolization: United States v. Microsoft Corporation (2001)
Essay Guidelines:
· Choosing a topic:
o Choose a case from the paper topics provided above. You may choose another antitrust case, but you must clear it with me first.
o Make sure that you can find several sources on the subject. You can use internet sources, but I suggest looking at one (or more) of the following books.
Viscusi, W. Kip, Joseph E. Harrington, and John M. Vernon. Economics of Regulation and Antitrust. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2005.
Kwoka, Jr., John E., and White, Lawrence J., ed. The Antitrust Revolution: Economics, Competition, and Policy. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.
Blair, Roger D., and David L. Kaserman. Antitrust Economics. 2nded. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.
Cabral, Luis M.B., Introduction to Industrial Organization. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2000.
Marshall, Robert C. and Leslie Marx. The Economics of Collusion. MIT Press 2012.
· The point of the essay is to completely and fairly present the antitrust case. You must (1) provide background information on the relevant market/industry, (2) describe the economic issue, (3) discuss the arguments made by the plaintiff(s) and defendant(s), (4) explain the Supreme Court's decision and rationale, and (5) find a present day example in the news where the results of this case might be relevant.
· This essay is to be impartial. Do not choose a side; just fairly present the issue at hand. Even if you find a particular stance to be ludicrous, as an economist, you should be able to analyze the costs and benefits without the audience being aware of your personal feelings. Expository essays use the third person.
· Make sure there is a tight progression from introduction to thesis to body and then to conclusion. Make sure each body paragraph has its own topic and only one topic.
· Most importantly, while still appealing to a general audience, it should be clear that the author has analyzed the issues as an economist.
· After writing an initial outline/draft, check the essay to make sure there is a clear and logical progression throughout. Make sure that the thesis relates to every paragraph, or that every paragraph relates to the thesis.