Under the antitrust laws, a man becomes a criminal from…
“Under the antitrust laws, a man becomes a criminal from the moment he goes into business, no matter what he does. If he complies with one of these laws, he faces criminal prosecution under several others. For instance, if he charges prices which some bureaucrats judge as too high, he can be prosecuted for monopoly or for a successful 'intent to monopolize'; if he charges prices lower than those of his competitors, he can be prosecuted for 'unfair competition' or 'restraint of trade'; and if he charges the same prices as his competitors, he can be prosecuted for 'collusion' or 'conspiracy.'”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Antitrust regulations can criminalize normal business actions, creating paradoxes where compliance leads to prosecution.
In simple terms: Business rules can trap entrepreneurs.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for clearer, fairer regulations.
Themes
law
business
paradox
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
economic
When to use this quote
- entrepreneurship
- legal counsel
- policy reform
Key Concepts
regulatory theory
economic freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- How can law balance competition and innovation?
- What reforms reduce contradictory prosecutions?
A Different Perspective
Legal systems may oversimplify complex markets.