A growing number of policymakers and scholars are calling for tougher rules to curb corporate acquisitions. But these appeals are premature. There is currently little evidence to suggest that mergers systematically harm consumer welfare. More importantly, scholars fail to identify alternative...

In October 2022, Kroger and Albertsons announced their intent to merge the two companies in a deal valued at $24.6 billion. The combined company would be the third largest food and grocery retailer, behind Walmart and Amazon. Based on the Federal Trade Commission’s recently release draft...