Towards a Broader Approach to Competition and the Environment: Market Power and Environmental Disasters

Abstract

Abstract This article explores the intersection between market power and the environment, based on a study of environmental disasters in Brazil and their relationship with the activities of dominant firms. It argues that a narrow focus on price dimensions of corporate behaviour limits the legal responses for addressing broader environmental concerns emerging from market power. This highlights the need for a broader approach to understanding the operation of major players and the resulting impact on the environment. The paper concludes by discussing the institutional implications of an integrated approach for diverse fields of law for addressing market power as a driver of environmental harm, emphasising the importance of structural remedies that transcend mere compensation of affected parties.