What do antitrust laws aim to prevent?

Antitrust laws are designed to promote fair competition in the marketplace and prevent monopolistic behavior. The overarching goal of these laws is to ensure that no single company can dominate a market to the extent that it stifles competition, leading to higher prices, reduced quality, or limited choices for consumers. By prohibiting practices such as price-fixing, bid-rigging, and market allocation, antitrust laws create an environment where multiple companies can compete, innovation can thrive, and consumers can benefit from competitive pricing and improved services.

In contrast, the other options address different areas of law and corporate responsibility. While collusion among companies is certainly problematic and may be addressed through antitrust laws, it specifically pertains to manipulation of market dynamics rather than the broader objective of preventing monopolistic dominance. Corporate fraud and deception relate more to financial misconduct and securities law, while the ethical treatment of employees falls under labor law and workplace regulations, neither of which are the primary focus of antitrust legislation. Thus, the aim of antitrust laws is clearly centered on fostering competition and curtailing monopolistic practices.