Competition and Learning in the Evolution of Policy Regimes

Why are American and international markets today dominated by an increasingly narrow group of firms? Drawing on original archival research from the United States and France, Erik Peinert examines how government policy toward competition and monopoly has evolved at key moments in the twentieth century. Tracing the diffusion of new policy ideas through U.S. and French governments, Peinert shows how economic research, policy frameworks, and competing interests shaped debates inside government. He shows that policy change often results from the interaction between turnover within policy networks and the diminishing returns of existing policy regimes, particularly when hardline positions become unsustainable. The analysis spans several domains of economic governance, including antitrust, intellectual property, trade, and industrial policy.

This is a hybrid lecture, with both in-person and online attendance available. In-person guests should head to the Pyramid Room, in the King's building, Strand campus. Online guests will be provided with a joining link closer to the time.

SPEAKER

Erik Peinert is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Boston University and a comparative and international political economist whose work focuses on the political economy of advanced industrial states and the politics of economic policymaking, particularly competition policy and market power. He received his PhD from Brown University in 2020 and previously worked as a research manager at the American Economic Liberties Project.

Discussant: Dr. Melike Arslan (Loughborough London)

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Host or Publisher Department of European and International Studies