The Role of Antitrust Law: From Technocratic to Democratic

HLSAA invites you a to a lunch talk with Daniel Hanley, Senior Legal Analyst of Open Markets Institute. Lunch will be provided. Daniel will discuss how antitrust law influences our democracy.

Antitrust is often treated as a technical area of law, but at its core, it is about power—who holds it, how it is exercised, and how a democratic society can shape it. Rather than a narrow body of rules, antitrust sets the ground conditions for markets and helps determine what freedom, justice, and opportunity look like in practice.

This event will explore how these choices are reflected in everyday life. Should athletes be able to earn from their talent? Should workers be bound by non-compete clauses? Should consumers have the right to repair the products they own? Should culture—concerts, sports, and games—be open and accessible? These questions demonstrate that antitrust extends far beyond prices and efficiency.

By tracing these examples, the discussion will highlight what it means to realize the full promise of antitrust: a democratic project that structures markets, limits corporate domination, and secures the dignity and agency of individuals. At stake is not only who wins in the marketplace, but also how those victories shape our common life.