Are monopolies making inflation worse?

Many C.E.O.s cite rising energy costs, snarled supply chains and other factors for stubbornly high inflation. But some in progressive policymaking circles say there is another reason prices are rising: profiteering by dominant firms.

Short-term factors like conflict and Covid give executives cover for raising prices, but a longer-term problem is that it is “nearly impossible” to prove price-fixing because of weakness in the law, said Krista Brown of the American Economic Liberties Project, an antitrust advocacy group. The group is proposing model legislation to address what it calls “collusive pricing behavior.” DealBook got a first look at it.