These laws are formed to promote healthy competition within a free market by limiting the abuse of monopoly power.
Competition allows companies to compete in order for products and services to improve; promote innovation; and provide more choices for consumers.
In order to obtain greater profits, some large enterprises take advantage of market power to hinder survival of new entrants.
Anti-competitive behavior can undermine the efficiency and fairness of the market, leaving consumers with little choice to obtain a reasonable quality of service.
In absence of perfect competition Chicago school of economics argues vertical integration may be pro-competitive by reducing double marginalization.