Open Markets Institute

A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS, RESEARCHERS, LAWYERS, AND ADVOCATES WORKING TOGETHER TO EXPOSE AND REVERSE THE STRANGLEHOLD THAT CORPORATE MONOPOLIES HAVE ON OUR COUNTRY.

FAIR ECONOMY - OPEN MARKETS USES RESEARCH AND JOURNALISM TO EXPOSE THE DANGERS OF MONOPOLIZATION, IDENTIFIES INTERVENTIONS IN POLICY AND LAW TO ADDRESS THEM, AND EDUCATES POLICYMAKERS, ACADEMICS, MOVEMENT GROUPS, AND OTHER INFLUENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS TO RE-ESTABLISH THE COMPETITIVE MARKETS THAT HAVE LONG FORMED THE BEDROCK OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. BY COMBINING POLICY, LEGAL, AND MARKET STRUCTURE EXPERTISE WITH SOPHISTICATED COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND COALITION-BUILDING EFFORTS, OPEN MARKETS SEEKS NOT ONLY TO HOLD TODAY'S MONOPOLIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR ABUSE OF POWER, BUT TO REBUILD AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM WHERE PROGRESS IS EASIER TO ACHIEVE, BECAUSE POWER IS FAR MORE WIDELY AND EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED.

INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS - PUBLIC POLICIES THAT AFFECT THE TERMS OF TRADE WITH OTHER NATIONS, INCLUDING TARIFFS, HAVE PROFOUND EFFECTS ON THE STRUCTURE OF MARKETS, RANGING FROM UNWARRANTED PROTECTION FOR DOMESTIC MONOPOLIES TO THE PROMOTION OF TRANSNATIONAL TRADING COMPANIES THAT EXPLOIT LABOR, EVADE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, AND CREATE DANGEROUSLY OVEREXTENDED SUPPLY CHANNELS. AT THE SAME TIME TRADE POLICY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN STRENGTHENING OR WEAKENING AMERICA'S GEOPOLITICAL POSITION IN THE WORLD, MAKING TRADE, COMPETITION POLICY, AND NATIONAL SECURITY INTRINSICALLY LINKED.

TECHNOLOGY AND DEMOCRACY - SINCE OUR LAUNCH AS AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION, THE OPEN MARKETS TEAM HAS FOCUSED ON SOUNDING THE ALARM ON THE MONOPOLISTIC PRACTICES AND HARMS OF FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, AND AMAZON. WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THAT THIS IS NOW A PART OF THE NATIONAL DEBATE AND THE MOMENTUM FOR ACTION. WHILE WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON ENSURING STRUCTURAL REMEDIES ARE APPLIED TO THE HARMS OF THESE PLATFORM MONOPOLIES, WE PLAN TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND OUR WORK ON TECHNOLOGY AND POWER BEYOND THE THREE BIG PLATFORMS. THE MISSION OF THE TECHNOLOGY & POWER PROGRAM IS TO ENSURE THAT NEW TECHNOLOGIES ALWAYS SERVE THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE AND CANNOT BE USED TO CONCENTRATE DANGEROUS DEGREES OF POWER AND CONTROL OVER THE ACTIONS OR THOUGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, OR ENTIRE SOCIETIES.

COMPETITION LAW AND PHILOSOPHY - OPEN MARKETS SEEKS TO ACCELERATE SHAPING THE DIRECTION OF THE LAW THROUGH RESEARCH AND THE FILING OF AMICUS BRIEFS AND COMMENT LETTERS AND PETITIONS TO FEDERAL AGENCIES IN ANTITRUST CASES AND OTHER COMPETITION POLICY MATTERS. THIS WORK HAS ALREADY HAD INFLUENCE. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS IN DRIVING ACTION THROUGH OUR STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL PROGRAM AS SEEN IN THE TWO MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS ANNOUNCED INTO GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH STATE OFFICES ON ISSUES RELATED TO AGRICULTURE, LABOR, AND HEALTHCARE.