Alden Abbott
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Senior Research Fellow
Alden Abbott is a Senior Research Fellow focusing on antitrust issues. Before joining Mercatus, Mr. Abbott served as the Federal Trade Commission’s General Counsel from 2018 to early 2021, where he represented the Commission in court and provided legal advice to its representatives. Prior to working at the FTC, Mr. Abbott worked at the Heritage Foundation and BlackBerry Ltd. He also served as an adjunct professor at Mason’s Antonin Scalia Law School from 1991 to 2018. Mr. Abbott has a J.D. from Harvard Law School and an M.A. in economics from Georgetown University.
Latest Work
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Will The FTC Reinvigorate an Antiquated Law That Raises Prices? | Forbes
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Blunt Tools & Sharp Rebukes | Competition Corner
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The FTC’s Vote to Ban Noncompetes | WTIC radio’s “The Todd Feinburg Show”
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Celebrating World IP Day: Is the Innovative Future Sustainable? | IPWatchdog
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Does It Make Sense To Ban Companies From Using Noncompete Agreements? | Lars Larson Show
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
FTC Rule Barring Non-compete Agreements Likely Will Fail | Forbes
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Steeling To Block a Merger | Truth on the Market
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
With Friends Like These … | Competition Corner
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
US v. Apple Lawsuit Has Big Implications for Competition and Innovation | Truth on the Market
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
US v. Apple Lawsuit Could Affect American Competition and Innovation | Forbes
Latest Work
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Will The FTC Reinvigorate an Antiquated Law That Raises Prices? | Forbes
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Blunt Tools & Sharp Rebukes | Competition Corner
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The FTC’s Vote to Ban Noncompetes | WTIC radio’s “The Todd Feinburg Show”
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Celebrating World IP Day: Is the Innovative Future Sustainable? | IPWatchdog
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Does It Make Sense To Ban Companies From Using Noncompete Agreements? | Lars Larson Show
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
FTC Rule Barring Non-compete Agreements Likely Will Fail | Forbes
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Steeling To Block a Merger | Truth on the Market
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
With Friends Like These … | Competition Corner
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
US v. Apple Lawsuit Has Big Implications for Competition and Innovation | Truth on the Market
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
US v. Apple Lawsuit Could Affect American Competition and Innovation | Forbes
Latest Work
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Antitrust Enforcement in 2023: Year in Review for the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Reforming the Federal Trade Commission
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Robinson-Patman Act: A Statute at Odds with Competition and Economic Welfare
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
POLICY SPOTLIGHT | The Problem with a Federal Ban on Noncompete Agreements
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Books Books
Trade, Competition and Domestic Regulatory Policy
Trade Liberalisation, Competitive Markets and Property Rights Protection
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Developments in Competition Policy during the Second Year of the Biden Administration
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
POLICY SPOTLIGHT | Is Weak Antitrust Enforcement Harming American Competition?
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Developments in Competition Policy during the First Year of the Biden Administration
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Reining In Market-Distorting Federal Regulation
Latest Work
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The FTC’s Vote to Ban Noncompetes | WTIC radio’s “The Todd Feinburg Show”
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Proposed Kroger-Albertsons Merger Would Lead To Higher Prices | Scripps News’ “Main & Wall”
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Importance of Reducing Anticompetitive Market Distortions | Information Technology & Innovation Foundation’s “Innovation Files”
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Importance of Patents for Innovation | IPWatchdog
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Pharmaceutical Innovation, Antitrust Enforcement and Patent Law | IPWatchdog
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Talking Trade, Energy, and the Environment | Heritage Foundation's "Power Hour Special"
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Regulations Blocking Health Care Progress | Freedom Works Radio
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
What’s the Role of FTC’s General Counsel? | ABA's "Our Curious Amalgam"
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Elon Musk Faces Another Challenge During Twitter Takeover | Fox Business
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
- | Mercatus Policy Download Mercatus Policy Download
Antitrust Policy and its Different Perspectives
Where do the Antitrust professionals agree and disagree?
Latest Work
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Draft Merger Guidelines Jointly Proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission Are Seriously Flawed in Their Discussion of Merger Case Law
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The European Commission's Draft "Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Standard Essential Patents" is Unnecessary and Harmful
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
A WTO Trips Agreement Waiver to Promote the Dissemination of COVID-19 Diagnostics and Therapeutics Is Unneeded and Would Impose Harm
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Federal Trade Commission's Proposed Noncompete Clause Rule Requires Rethinking, as a Matter of Law and Policy
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
New Merger Guidelines Should Be Concise, Be Administrable, and Avoid Antimerger Bias
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Addressing Anticompetitive Conduct In Pharmaceutical Markets: Antitrust Enforcement Is Robust and Effective, but Additional Market-Oriented Legal Reform Would be Helpful
US Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Pharmaceutical Merger Enforcement Should Be Supported by Evidence and Sound Economic Theory
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Addressing Anticompetitive Conduct and Consolidation in Healthcare Markets: The Roles of State and Federal Regulation and Antitrust Law
Statement for the Record Submitted to the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Lack of Resources and Lack of Authority Over Nonprofit Organizations Are the Biggest Hindrances to Antitrust Enforcement in Healthcare
Testimony before the US House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law
Latest Work
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Will The FTC Reinvigorate an Antiquated Law That Raises Prices? | Forbes
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Blunt Tools & Sharp Rebukes | Competition Corner
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Celebrating World IP Day: Is the Innovative Future Sustainable? | IPWatchdog
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Does It Make Sense To Ban Companies From Using Noncompete Agreements? | Lars Larson Show
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
FTC Rule Barring Non-compete Agreements Likely Will Fail | Forbes
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Steeling To Block a Merger | Truth on the Market
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
With Friends Like These … | Competition Corner
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
US v. Apple Lawsuit Has Big Implications for Competition and Innovation | Truth on the Market
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
US v. Apple Lawsuit Could Affect American Competition and Innovation | Forbes
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary