📚 Learning Guide
Sherman Antitrust Act
hard

Which of the following actions would most likely violate the Sherman Antitrust Act?

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Learning Path

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Choose the Best Answer

A

A company merging with a direct competitor to increase market share

B

A company lowering prices to attract more customers in a competitive market

C

A business collaborating with local suppliers to improve supply chain efficiency

D

A startup launching a new product in an emerging market segment

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

A violation would occur if companies agreed to set the same price for a product, such as two major soda makers telling each other to charge $1. 50 for a can of soda and refusing to sell below that. This is a classic example of price‑fixing, a direct restraint of trade that the Sherman Act forbids. The reasoning is that such agreements eliminate competition, allowing firms to raise prices and reduce consumer choice. If the firms instead competed independently, each could set its own price and consumers would benefit from lower prices or better quality.

Detailed Explanation

When two rival companies merge, they may control a large portion of the market. Other options are incorrect because Lowering prices to win customers is called healthy competition, not a monopoly; Working with suppliers to get better materials is a normal business practice.

Key Concepts

Antitrust legislation
Market competition
Corporate mergers
Topic

Sherman Antitrust Act

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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