EconWorks Podcast

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]

The Chaos of Unintended Consequences in Antitrust

Managing deeply integrated, complex systems requires a careful balance. When regulators pull out their toolkit, the results are rarely simple. Join us as we look at both sides of the modern competition debate and the practical realities of trying to “fix” global markets. Key Discussion Points: * The Case for Intervention: Breaking price chokeholds and preventing consumer “lock-in”. * The Risks of Regulation: Visualizing the compliance trap and system-wide performance degradation. * The “Rescued” Competitor: Why the DOJ’s win against the JetBlue/Spirit merger resulted in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. * Global Competition: How blocking domestic mergers like Tapestry/Capri may handicap American brands against European conglomerates. Call to Action: This series is reader-supported. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at EconWorks to support our work. What do you think—are regulators getting it right, or is the cure worse than the disease? For a full article and visual examination of this situation, 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]

Ticketmaster on Trial

A jury has officially found Live Nation-Ticketmaster guilty of having too much power and acting in a way that keeps people out of the market. But will this really lower the price of your concert tickets? In this episode, we talk about the recent state-led antitrust case against Ticketmaster and what the limits of state antitrust power are. We talk about the history of the 2010 DOJ settlement, what the jury's finding of a $1.72 overcharge means for the company's future, and why figuring out who is responsible is just the first step. Finally, we compare the US approach of restoring competition to international approaches, like Ontario's, restoring competition with international approaches, such as direct price caps on ticket resales. If you've ever been angry about buying concert tickets, you won't want to miss this explanation of the law, the money, and what comes next! For a comprehensive article and graphic study 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]