The Path of Khan

“FTC Chair Lina Khan’s meteoric rise to the helm of the antitrust enforcement agency has been closely tied to the e-commerce company. She gained national attention while still a law school student for a paper titled ‘Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox,’ arguing the e-commerce giant constitutes an anti-competitive threat that evades political scrutiny because of the relatively narrow way the courts have interpreted antitrust law. Her paper has been at the center of a broader political movement that argues monopoly law should be more creatively and aggressively enforced, extending beyond the prices consumers pay.” Lina Khan’s paper just got real. WaPo (Gift Article): U.S., 17 states sue Amazon alleging monopolistic practices led to higher prices. “In a sweeping lawsuit, the Federal Trade Commission alleges the e-commerce giant abused its powers to raise prices for shoppers and levy high fees against businesses that sell on its platform.” (At this point, it doesn’t look like the feds are looking to break up Amazon, so relax, your package won’t be delayed…)