WVXU: The feds moved to block the Kroger-Albertsons merger. What does that mean for the Tristate?
UC Law’s Felix Chang, an expert in anti-trust law shares his thoughts
Regulators at the Federal Trade Commission have taken legal action to stop Kroger’s mammoth acquisition of grocery store chain Albertsons Cos.
The proposed $25 billion plan has drawn fire from critics who argue the price of groceries could increase with diminished competition while the layoffs could also be a possibility for grocery store employees. Supporters say the merger is needed for Kroger to compete against other large rivals such as Walmart.
WVXU aired a segment on the proposed acquisition featuring two guests: Felix Chang, professor of law at the University of Cincinnati, and co-director of the Corporate Law Center, and Matthew Weinberg, associate professor of economics at The Ohio State University.
Felix Chang, professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, is shown. Photo by Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.
Chang is an expert in antitrust law and regularly teaches antitrust, business associations, securities regulation, and wills and estates.
Antitrust legal experts are closely watching the U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon, where a judge has already been assigned and federal regulators have gotten a temporary order barring the deal from going through until arguments are heard in court.
Experts say a look at the history of grocer mergers shows grocery prices tend to go up in concentrated markets and that conditions for grocery store workers are also negatively impacted.
“The track record hasn’t been great for employees either,” Chang told WVXU. “When Sanford was purchased previously, it led to a lot of stores being shut down and a lot of workers losing their jobs.
“Prior to the FTC filing lawsuit, the chair of the FTC, Lina Khan, conducted listening sessions throughout the state of Colorado and one of the consistently negatively heard opinions was from workers who experienced those layoffs from prior purchases and consolidations within this industry.”
Listen to the WVXU segment online.
Learn more about the work of UC Law Professor Felix Chang online.
Related Stories
State Department Delegation For Discussion On Foreign Policy
February 18, 2002
In what was billed as the most important delegation of the year in the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Program, a group of 21 representatives from some of the world's most conflict-ridden regions participated in a special human rights program at the College of Law on Feb. 15
PROFILE: Co-op Winner Seeks New Homes for Reptilian Roomies
November 10, 2002
Co-oping has been nothing but good news for UC Honors-PLUS senior Zach Osborne. It's proving to be not quite as auspicious for the 11 reptiles he keeps as pets.
Bono, Chris Tucker Visit UC To Discuss Africa
December 5, 2002
U2's Bono and comedian-actor Chris Tucker led a delegation from the DATA organization who came to UC to talk about potentially catastrophic problems in Africa.
UC Law Students Release Ohio Death Penalty Study
January 16, 2003
Students from the UC College of Law's Urban Justice Institute released a study of Ohio's death penalty system that argues that serious reform is needed to protect against the possibility of executing an innocent individual.
State Department Forum Features World View on U.S. Policy
January 28, 2003
A global reaction to the latest developments in the U.S. war on terror and other foreign policy developments will be available when 19 visitors on a State Department-sponsored tour of the United States come to the UC College of Law for a forum on Jan. 31.
UC Research Spurs Lawmakers to Propose 14th Amendment Vote
February 4, 2003
Ohio may finally ratify the 14th Amendment, after research from UC's Urban Justice Institute showed that a pair of votes 135 years ago left Ohio's approval in doubt.
Law Alum to Speak on African-Americans in Civil War
February 6, 2003
Bernard Siler, a 1978 graduate of the UC College of Law, will be the featured speaker at the college's 2003 Minorty Law Day program. Siler will talk about his historical interest in the Civil War and the role of African-American soldiers.
PROFILE: The Full Story on Taxes
February 24, 2003
Paul Caron of the UC College of Law has turned his interest in tax policy and better ways to teach it into a new series of legal textbooks for one of the nation's largest legal education publishers.
UC Students' Work Has Ohio on Verge of Historic Vote
February 24, 2003
Ohio legislators are expected this week to confer their approval upon the 14th Amendment, laying to rest historical questions about Ohio's stance on the issue that were raised through research by UC law students.
Spring 2003 Study Abroad at UC
March 3, 2003
Globalization, rather than socialization and sun, will be the priority for more than 220 students heading overseas this spring.