What purpose do "Anti-Trust" laws serve?

Question

What are anti-trust laws, and how do they affect the way our nation is run? Have there been any famous examples of their effectiveness?

Answer 1

They prevent "trusts" or "monopolies"

Section 1 of the Sherman Act involves conduct by two or more persons (whether they are individuals, partnerships or corporations). Courts over the years have determined that some conduct is so inherently evil (“pernicious,” according to some counts) that, for all practical purposes, it is indefensible. Price fixing by competitors is the leading example of such prohibited conduct. The other prime examples are agreements among competitors to allocate markets or customers among them and to boycott third parties. The simple fact that an agreement exists in any of these areas is sufficient to subject the participants in the agreement to the sanctions authorized for violations of federal antitrust law. All of these types of conduct have a common theme – they limit consumer options. For example, an agreement to fix prices or to divide a market generally means that consumers pay more for goods or services than they would in a free market.

Section 2 of the Sherman Act prohibits monopolistic practices. Unlike Section 1, there is no rule that it takes “two to tango” for there to be a violation under Section 2. A single firm, for instance, can be found liable for an antitrust violation if it has a large market share (usually over 65 percent) and then undertakes unfairly to maintain its market dominance.

Answer 2

The protect the people from price fixing and other questionable practices by corporations who are either monoploies or in leage with other corporations. When a corporation or group of companies... like oil companies... come together, they can fix their prices because there is no competition.

Answer 3

Hmmm. None if they are not enforced.

Look up Baby Bells. A temporary fix I think.

Answer 4

All laws serve the rich, they make them remember ;)