Regulation: Real-World Examples

Worked IB Economics case studies on regulation — what happened, how to deploy it in a 15-mark answer, and the evaluation points on both sides.

Search engine results and competing browser icons representing monopoly power in online search.

Regulation

Google Search Monopoly: Government Action Against Market Power

United States2020–present

A US court found Google illegally maintained search monopolies and imposed rules designed to make it easier for rivals to compete.

Read case study
Music waveform with an AI marker showing transparency rules for AI-generated audio.

Regulation

EU AI Act and AI Music: Reducing Asymmetric Information

European Union2026–present

EU transparency rules require AI-generated audio to be detectable, aiming to reduce information gaps between creators and listeners.

Read case study
Two passenger aircraft approaching a merger symbol, representing government control of airline market concentration.

Regulation

JetBlue–Spirit Merger: Government Action to Protect Competition

United States2022–2024

A US court blocked JetBlue's $3.8 billion takeover of Spirit, finding that the merger would reduce competition and harm many travellers.

Read case study
Several car manufacturers around a recycling symbol representing cartel behaviour in the motor industry.

Regulation

European Car Recycling Cartel: Collusion in an Oligopoly

European Union2002–2025

EU regulators fined major carmakers €458 million for colluding on vehicle recycling, showing how governments can tackle cartel behaviour.

Read case study
Industrial factories trading carbon permits under the European Union emissions trading system.

Regulation

EU Emissions Trading System: Reducing Industrial Carbon Emissions

European Union2005–present

The EU uses tradable pollution permits to make firms pay for carbon emissions and reduce the negative externality from production.

Read case study