ICLE's Chief Economist Brian Albrecht evaluates $24.6 billion Kroger-Albertsons transaction

Brian Albrecht, Chief Economist of the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE), joins the podcast today to discuss ICLE's paper on the $24.6 billion Kroger-Albertsons transaction. ICLE Paper on Kroger / Albertson's merger: https://laweconcenter.org/icle-on-kroger-albertsons/ White paper: https://laweconcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Kroger-Albertsons-Merger-Full-Paper.pdf Chapters: [0:00] Introduction + Episode sponsor: Alphasense [1:32] Overview of ICLE (International Center for Law & Economics) and Brian's background [3:12] Kroger / Albertson's merger - how Brian is thinking about this potential merger [6:55] FTC's analytical framework [10:58] Why government hasn't brought more suits in grocery industry [14:34] Should precedent be updated? [24:05] Why shouldn't market shares matter? [28:30] How have delivery services changed the market index & wrap-up on wholesale clubs, competition [33:05] Divestitures [39:26] Specific divestiture package - Haggen's example [46:20] Waterbed effect - why this is or isn't an antitrust concern [51:44] Regional power vs. local power with retail workers [59:01] Final thoughts Today's episode is sponsored by: Alphasense This episode is brought to you by AlphaSense, the AI platform behind the world's biggest investment decisions. The right financial intelligence platform can make or break your quarter. AlphaSense is the #1 rated financial research solution by G2. With AI search technology and a library of premium content, you can stay ahead of key macroeconomic trends and accelerate your investment research efforts. AI capabilities, like Smart Synonyms and Sentiment Analysis, provide even deeper industry and company analysis. AlphaSense gives you the tools you need to provide better analysis for you and your clients. As a Yet Another Value Podcast listener, visit alpha-sense.com/fs today to beat FOMO and move faster than the market.