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I think these articles make really good points. But they seem completely off-topic. Nothing in there makes the connection between antitrust laws and a Silicon Valley economy.



Not from the US so correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the US had (and exercised) solid antitrust laws way before Silicon Valley developed? The case of Standard Oil in the early 20th century comes to mind.


Neither an historian nor an economist.

But yes, they certainly did.

Appart from Standard Oil AT&T and - in theory - Microsoft come to mind.

Now US antitrust efforts seem to be pretty much non-existent, even though they may be needed more than ever. I don't see that happening anytime soon in the current climate.

So, the EU hiting companies, which behave badly regardless where such companies are located is a very good thing in my book.


What good are those laws when concerted lobbying and corruption means they never get enforced?


Are you trying to argue that Standard Oil didn't have much lobbying power? Or that politicians/courts were less corrupt back then?




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