Some lessons learned from FTC v. Staples

In this article, the author briefly reviews four substantive issues in the analysis of the effects of the proposed merger of office superstores Staples and Office Depot. One apparent issue in FTC v. Staples was the availability of relevant information to support the claims of the merging firms and the appropriate methods of analyzing the information. To manage prices effectively requires the collection, analysis, and dissemination to decision makers of relevant information. The author provides a prescription for the minimum information that firms should collect and place in a pricing information system as simply good managerial practice.