Report on Antitrust Implications of Joint Industry Activities under Price Controls

• Main Authors: SADD, William W., HUTH, William E., CORTESIO, John C., HUNTER, Howard
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 1975
• Subjects: Antitrust and Trade Regulation; Law and Society
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/2116; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sol_research/article/4068/viewcontent/44AntitrustLJ423__1_.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Pursuant to the authority of the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970, the nation has recently experienced "Phase IV" of a program of price controls. This statutory authority expired on April 30, 1974, except as to certain petroleum products. Phase IV, to a greater extent than the preceding three phases of controls, gave rise to a need and an opportunity for joint industry efforts to influence and guide governmental authorities in shaping pricing policies in the economy. This report, therefore, examines the legal basis for such joint industry activities within the purview of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. If authority is granted by Congress for any extension of controls, this report may be of use to antitrust practitioners in assessing the future conduct of their clients; absent such extension, it is hoped that this report will have historical value through documentation of some of the problems and considerations involved in the relationship between government price controls and antitrust laws.