MONOPOLIES AND ANTITRUST POLICY

Monopolies are known in theory and in practice for several centuries. Laws, regulating monopolies existed on the teritory of Central Europe more than hundred years ago. In Czecho-Slovakia before the Second World War several fiscal monopolies were known. In the totalitary economy several monopolist companies were important parts of the national economy. The conditions of monopoly equilibrium in general and under regulation by Plan are given. Oligopolies and other monopolistic structures are analysed. Antitrust laws and their development in the USA is studied. Main features of the Czecho-Slovak Antitrust Law and of antitrust policy with evaluation of their meaning for the transfer to market economy are illustrated in the final part of the article.