The unrelenting discussion around whether competition policy should pursue non-economic goals has recently been permeated by two concerns of global dimensions: rising wealth inequality and the plight for sustainable development. The discussion is often framed in a way that suggests these pursuits have the potential to affect antitrust in opposed fashions. On the one hand, the alarming upward trend in wealth concentration has been linked to issues competition law may have the power to tackle, such as the intensification of unchallengeable market power. On the other hand, as the world tries to grapple with an impending environmental catastrophe, and pressure mounts on the business community to take action, it seems politically unacceptable to compel companies to invest in green initiatives if there is a risk that these might be punishable under competition law. In this context, more competition law enforcement is usually invoked as a means to help combat inequality, while less antitrust intervention is often portrayed as essential to enable environmentally friendly collaborations. In this seminar, we will explore ways to reconcile these trends, and discuss how non-economic goals can play a role in antitrust policy.

About the Speaker: Prof. Sandra Marco Colino, Associate Professor, CUHK LAW