But we are authors with a deep, collective experience in this field, and we agree with the authorities in economics and law who have asserted that Amazon’s dominant position makes it a monopoly as a seller of books and a monopsony as a buyer of books.” (A monopoly is a company that has extraordinary control over supply as a seller of goods to consumers a monopsony has extraordinary control over suppliers as a buyer of their goods.) These writers generally aren’t legal experts, however, and they freely acknowledge this near the beginning of their letter to the Justice Department, while asserting that their profession does afford them some degree of expertise: “We are not experts in antitrust law, and this letter is not a legal brief.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIS RATCLIFFE / BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY

A group of writers has put forth what antitrust experts describe as a highly unorthodox argument: that, even though Amazon’s activities tend to reduce book prices, which is considered good for consumers, they ultimately hurt consumers.

Is amazon a monopoly