Controlling Buyer and Seller Power: Reviving Enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act

The Robinson-Patman Act (“RPA”) is a federal law enacted in 1936. Congress’s goal in drafting this historic legislation was to protect and promote democracy and individual liberty in the United States by supporting the creation and vitality of small and independent businesses, thereby distributing power and opportunity within the U.S. political economy.This Article provides a robust defense of Congress’s goals and intentions in enacting the RPA as well as a detailed history of how the Act benefited American society when it was vigorously enforced. It concludes with thoughts on how the RPA can be used to revitalize today’s economy, thus paving the way for broader economic prosperity, greater social justice, and a stronger democracy.