What beer reveals about monopoly power

Beer probably isn't the first thing people associate with big economic debates. But if you want to understand the corrosive influence of monopoly power on American society, it provides a handy lesson. Judging simply by the beer selection at your local grocery store, it might seem like we're awash in brands and a hefty selection of craft beers. But it turns out a lot of those options are actually owned by the same small selection of beer-making giants. As recently as 2000, the U.S. beer...