Question

) Numerous times in history, the courts have issued consent decrees requiring large companies to break up into smaller competing companies for violating the antitrust laws. The two best known examples are American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) in the 1980s and Microsoft 20 years later. (AT&T) was broken up into “Baby Bells”; but Microsoft breakup was successfully appealed, and the breakup was never occurred. Many argue that breaking up a monopoly is a Pareto-efficient change. This interpretation cannot be so because breaking up a monopoly makes it owners (or shareholders) worse off. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer