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LPE Blog

NIH v. APHA and the Inequities of Two-Track Justice

The Supreme Court’s NIH v. APHA decision creates a harmful “two-track” litigation process, forcing plaintiffs to file duplicative lawsuits in different courts to obtain relief. Echoing the Pennhurst ruling of 50 years ago, the Court’s procedural maneuvering threatens to obstruct justice for those challenging discriminatory government actions.

The Laws of the Market: A Response to Winant

Antitrust law is important not only for its potential in reforming our current economic system, but also analytically, because of law’s irreducible role in structuring economic competition and coordination. Contra any picture of markets operating via quasi-automatic mechanisms, the organization and operations of any market are as much a product of contingent. . .

Title VI Turned Upside Down

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a crowning achievement of the Civil Rights Movement. Today, however, it has become one of the most powerful forces against desegregation. How did this vertigo-inducing inversion come about? And how might we prevent similar civil rights perversions in the future?

Weekly Roundup: September 19

Gabe Winant on Marxism and Antitrust, Andrew Bilodeau on labor unions for incarcerated workers, and a collection of some of favorite posts on LPE & Criminal Law. Plus, an upcoming event on antitrust law and oligarchy, a new book by Aziza Ahmed, a new issue of the Journal of Law and Political Economy, and the best new essays from around the web, including. . .

From the Vault: LPE & Criminal Law

We reach into the vault and highlight some of our favorite posts on the entanglements between criminal law, political economy, and social inequality. Featuring Angela Harris, Noah Zatz, Jocelyn Simonson, Joanna Schwartz, Anthony O’Rourke, Guyora Binder, Rick Su, Zohra Ahmed, Dorothy Roberts, Judah Schept, Andrew Crespo, and Amna Akbar.

Marxism and Antitrust: A Provocation

How should we understand the relationship between Marxism and antitrust? To what extent do these traditions involve conflicting methods and assumptions? And, despite their differences, can we imagine a constructive give and take, where the two intellectual programs nonetheless align into a useful division of labor?

Weekly Roundup: September 12

Jonathan Harris on how states are rewriting the rules on worker mobility, Kate Jackson on the rise of populism in corporate governance, and your final reminder to submit a proposal to the upcoming ALPE conference. Plus, Luke Herrine on the weaponization of the FTC, Kate Mackenzie and Tim Sahay on an uninsurable planet, Todd Tucker on public-minded state. . .

A Populist CEO in Corporate Law’s Court?

Recent amendments to Delaware’s corporate code have tilted the playing field toward powerful tech CEOs and private equity representatives. Beneath these reforms lies a deeper political shift — the rise of populist corporate governance that threatens both shareholder rights and the rule of law.

Weekly Roundup: September 5

A Labor Day special: Michael Wishnie on faculty unions, and Eamon Coburn on reviving long-eroded social norms against union busting. Plus, upcoming deadlines for the ALPE conference and the Political Economy of Work Junior Scholar Workshop, a new syllabus from Sanjukta Paul, a thread of helpful student-focused LPE materials, an interview with Lev Menand on. . .

Why Not a Faculty Union?

Despite a recent surge in campus organizing, tenured faculty at private universities haven’t unionized. Why is this? The conventional answer is that the Supreme Court said they can’t. Fortunately, the conventional answer is wrong.

Gone Fishin’

Before the Blog goes on our annual August hiatus, we offer a final plug for the upcoming ALPE conference, count down the ten most read posts of 2025 so far, say a fond farewell to our departing editorial board members and student editors, and welcome two new additions to the team.