The Handbag Merger That Sparked Debate: AI Critiques FTC v. Tapestry

When Does Sharing Data Become the Same Thing as Fixing Prices?

This episode explores the DOJ’s settlement with Agri Stats and the growing antitrust debate surrounding information sharing, algorithmic pricing, and AI coordination. The discussion covers: * why collusion is unstable, * how monitoring systems sustain coordination, * the role of AI pricing algorithms, *and why future antitrust cases may become increasingly difficult to detect and prove. Read the full article and the graphic analysis: https://blog.econworks.com/p/when-does-sharing-data-become-the?r=562wri [https://blog.econworks.com/p/when-does-sharing-data-become-the?r=562wri] Explore more visual economics content: EconWorks [https://econworks.com] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@EconWorks-d3e] Substack [http://blog.econworks.com] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe [https://blog.econworks.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Handbag Merger That Sparked Debate: AI Critiques FTC v. Tapestry

This episode turns to the FTC’s attempt to block the Tapestry (Coach) and Capri (Michael Kors, Kate Spade) merger. The central fight was over how to define the relevant market—a narrow “accessible luxury” segment or something much broader? Using AI, we critique the expert report’s data choices, market framing, and economic analysis, then see how it stacked up against the court’s real-world assessment. This episode explores brand differentiation, consumer behavior, and the challenges of merger review in consumer goods. It’s a fascinating case that reveals a lot about current FTC strategy. Read the full article and the graphic analysis: Explore more visual economics content: EconWorks [https://econworks.com] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@EconWorks-d3e] Substack [http://blog.econworks.com] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe [https://blog.econworks.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Texas Anesthesia Stealth Monopoly

This episode of EconWorks looks at one of the most important recent tests of serial acquisition enforcement: the FTC's lawsuit against U.S. Anesthesia Partners. The conversation looks at: * Rollups in healthcare * Definition of the market, * Leverage in negotiations, * Consolidation economics, * and the challenge of reestablishing competitiveness once markets have already changed due to past acquisitions. Significant legal and economic issues remain unsolved because the parties settled the case before the trial. Read the full article and graphic analysis: Explore more visual economics content: EconWorks [https://econworks.com] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@EconWorks-d3e] Substack [http://blog.econworks.com] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe [https://blog.econworks.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

AI Takes on the Apple App Store Market Definition Debate

Was the App Store an iOS-only monopoly or was it in a highly competitive multiplatform market? In episode two of the AI v. Judge series, AI takes a deep dive into the epic expert report in Epic v. Apple, including the fight over central market definition. We compare the AI assessment directly to the actual ruling of the court. The podcast features a comparison of broad and narrow marketplaces. Read the full article and the graphic analysis: Explore more visual economics content: EconWorks [https://econworks.com] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@EconWorks-d3e] Substack [http://blog.econworks.com] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe [https://blog.econworks.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Dollar Seventy Two vs Ticketmaster

Have you ever wondered if anything will actually change the way we buy concert tickets? In this episode, we break down the monumental shift in the fight against Live Nation-Ticketmaster. For over a decade, the debate around Ticketmaster relied on the constraints of a 2010 negotiated settlement with the DOJ, where core economic questions were never fully adjudicated. Now, the story has changed. We discuss the recent landmark case where a jury officially found that Live Nation-Ticketmaster possessed monopoly power, engaged in exclusionary conduct, and caused consumer harm. Tune in as we unpack the details of the “Antitrust Decision Funnel” and explain why determining liability is just the beginning. We explore the jury’s estimation of a $1.72 (or 1-3%) ticket overcharge and discuss how this magnitude of harm will influence the judge’s ultimate decision on remedies, which could range from damages to structural breakups. Finally, we compare the U.S. antitrust path—which seeks to restore competitive conditions—to alternative approaches, like Ontario’s direct price regulation that caps resale tickets at face value. If you want to understand the economics, the law, and what this verdict actually means for your next concert, this episode is for you! For a full article and graphic examination of this case, click this link: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.econworks.com/subscribe [https://blog.econworks.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]