Lina Khan's antitrust legacy raises affordability concerns. The former FTC Chair, who led record merger challenges during the Biden Administration, now advises Democratic politicians on tackling the cost-of-living crisis. Critics argue her aggressive approach may have backfired. The blocked Kroger-Albertsons merger exemplifies potential consumer harm. By narrowly defining grocery competition and excluding major retailers like Walmart, the FTC prevented cost-reducing economies of scale. Khan's Neo-Brandeisian philosophy assumes bigger businesses inherently harm markets, yet blocking consolidation can reduce competition and raise prices. As Democrats seek solutions to affordability, Khan's influence shapes policy discussions, though her enforcement record suggests aggressive antitrust action may not deliver the consumer benefits progressives intended.
