Lina Khan to Launch Economic Policy Center at Columbia
Source: wsj.com
TL;DR
- Lina Khan, former FTC chair, will launch an economic policy center at Columbia University next year.
- The center aims to study competition, labor, and antitrust issues amid debates over her aggressive enforcement record.
- It positions Khan as a key voice in Democratic economic policy as she exits government.
The story at a glance
Lina Khan, the antitrust crusader who reshaped FTC enforcement as chair, is starting a new economic policy center at Columbia University. The move comes as her term ends and political battles over competition policy intensify.
Key moments & milestones
- 2021: Khan appointed FTC chair by President Biden, launching high-profile cases against Amazon, Meta, and others.
- 2024: Steps down from FTC amid criticism from business groups and some Democrats over her approach.
- 2025: Launches Columbia Center on Economic Policy to focus on competition, labor markets, and inequality.
Signature highlights
- Center will host research, fellowships, and events on "modern economic challenges," drawing from Khan's tenure targeting Big Tech dominance.
- Khan, a 37-year-old former Yale Law professor, built a national profile with her 2017 paper critiquing Amazon's monopoly power.
- Backed by Columbia's Law School and School of International and Public Affairs, it signals academia's growing role in policy debates.
Key quotes
"We need new ways of thinking about competition in the 21st century." - Lina Khan
"This center will bridge rigorous scholarship with real-world policy impact." - Columbia official
Why it matters
Khan's center amplifies progressive antitrust ideas just as a new administration eyes tech regulation and labor rules. It could influence Democratic platforms and lawsuits against dominant firms. Watch for partnerships with labor groups and early research papers shaping 2026 midterms.