The Year in Review: Economics at the Antitrust Division: 2011

Last year, we had to defer discussion of two matters that we understood were of considerable interest, but were still ongoing. Those matters have, if anything, proven to be even more momentous than we anticipated. This year’s article will, consequently, focus on two of the most noteworthy antitrust challenges by the Antitrust Division in years—U.S. and Plaintiff States v. AT&T Inc., et al. and U.S. v. H&R Block, Inc., et al.—both of which were successfully challenged. The Division prevented substantial economic harm to consumers and did so with sound economic analysis.