Barel Karsan

The Big Fix

Denise Hearn and Vass Bednar’s 2024 book *The Big Fix* argues that a small group of large firms now dominate key Canadian sectors, inflating prices and suppressing innovation. They attribute this to roll‑up acquisitions, cross‑subsidies, and “kayfabe” competition, and call for stronger antitrust tools, merger blocks, and limits on vertical integration. The reviewer praises the book’s clear exposition but criticizes its failure to address government‑created barriers such as supply‑management quotas, occupational licensing, and foreign‑ownership restrictions. The piece warns that expanding regulatory power could itself stifle competition.