Episode 14- Behrang Kianzad - Fairness vs Efficiency: Rethinking Competition Law

In this episode, Anush and Kena sit down with Dr Behrang Kianzad, founder of FIDMA and senior researcher at Malmö University, to explore why fairness is re-emerging as a central concept in antitrust after decades of efficiency-dominated thinking. Behrang takes us through his 'Neo-Kantian' approach to competition law, the behavioural economics evidence showing humans are hardwired for fairness, and what the Digital Markets Act's emphasis on 'unfairness' means for enforcement. We also discuss COVID-19 price gouging, the Meta/Facebook case, and whether traditional fairness concepts can apply to AI-driven algorithmic pricing. A must-listen for anyone interested in the philosophical foundations of competition policy and where digital markets regulation is heading.