Francis, T. & Knutson, R. (2015). Wave of megadeals tests antitrust limits in U.S. The Wall Street Journal. Corporate benefits from consolidating an industry are fairly obvious; are there any associated benefits for consumers? How have these industrial changes affected you and your family?

As this article notes, the consolidation of industries can result in some benefits for consumers. Mergers of smaller companies can result in economies of scale that reduce prices for consumers. In addition, consolidation can, at times, result in higher-quality products, as the weaker products in the merged companies are discontinued. However, at other times, quasi-monopolies in a market can jack up prices or reduce quality, as large companies have little or no competition in certain areas.
These changes have likely affected you and your family. For example, mergers in the area of air travel mean that there are fewer flights available and that flights are more expensive. When there are more airlines flying certain routes, consumers can pick and choose in order to find lower fares and more convenient flights. However, if there are a limited number of airlines, consumers have to choose from the flights available and often have to pay higher prices. You might also find that the consolidation in the cell phone service industry has resulted in higher prices and fewer choices for you and your family.