The Economist (July 1)
The European Commission levied a record-setting fine on Google. “The size of the fine the tech giant will have to pay for abusing its monopoly in online search, €2.4bn ($2.7bn), sets a record for European antitrust penalties,” but it remains to be seen whether Google will have to cough it up. The tech firm has promised an appeal. By no means is this case clear-cut, but its resolution should further thought on the extent to which “network effects create high barriers to entry in online markets.”
Tags: Antitrust, Barriers to entry, European Commission, Fine, Google, Monopoly, Network effects, Search, Tech
Wall Street Journal (September 14)
“For Monsanto owners, selling to Bayer provides a premium of 44%.” With relatively little overlap between the companies, antitrust issues should be less likely to threaten the merger. Moreover, “the deal seems to make strategic sense, as Bayer combines its pesticides franchise with a leader in seeds and biotechnology. Bayer is also known for health care, which will generate about half of the combined company’s sales. Crop sciences will contribute roughly the other half.”
Tags: Antitrust, Bayer, Biotechnology, Crop sciences, Health care, Merger, Monsanto, Overlap, Pesticides, Premium, Seeds
