What is the main goal of antitrust laws?

The main goal of antitrust laws is to promote fair competition and prevent monopolies. These laws are designed to maintain a competitive marketplace, which is essential for fostering innovation, improving product quality, and offering consumers a variety of choices at fair prices. By preventing the formation of monopolies and other anti-competitive practices, antitrust laws help ensure that no single entity can dominate the market, stifling competition and harming consumers.

This objective is critical for the overall health of the economy. When competition is encouraged, companies are incentivized to improve their offerings and prices, benefiting consumers. Additionally, antitrust laws serve to protect smaller businesses from unfair practices that could drive them out of the market, thereby preserving a diverse economic landscape.

In contrast, the other options focus on different areas of business regulation or ethics. Holding individuals accountable for ethical misconduct pertains to corporate governance and ethical standards, while regulating corporate governance and ensuring accurate corporate disclosures are more concerned with transparency and accountability within organizations rather than competition in the marketplace.