What is the purpose of antitrust laws?

Antitrust laws are designed to promote fair competition in the marketplace and prevent practices that could lead to monopolistic behaviors. The primary goal of these laws is to safeguard consumer welfare by ensuring that markets remain open and competitive. This includes prohibiting practices such as price-fixing, market division, and the abuse of a dominant market position. By doing so, antitrust laws encourage businesses to innovate, improve products, and offer competitive prices, ultimately benefiting consumers and the economy as a whole. Therefore, the function of antitrust laws is critical in maintaining the integrity of competitive markets.