What is the primary aim of antitrust laws?

The primary aim of antitrust laws is to prevent unfair business practices and ensure fair competition in the marketplace. These laws are designed to protect consumers and encourage a competitive economy by prohibiting monopolistic behaviors and practices that restrict competition. For instance, antitrust laws prohibit companies from engaging in activities such as price-fixing, collusion, or creating barriers to entry for new competitors. By promoting fair competition, these laws help to foster innovation, improve product quality, and keep prices reasonable for consumers, ultimately benefiting the economy as a whole.

In contrast, promoting monopolies would undermine competition and is contrary to the intent of antitrust laws. Regulating small businesses is not the focus of these laws, as antitrust legislation applies to businesses of all sizes and primarily targets practices that inhibit competition. Additionally, while antitrust laws may influence pricing indirectly, they do not function explicitly as pricing controls, which are typically more directly related to government regulation of markets rather than competition itself.