Yes, that's a literal textbook example of regulatory capture. There are many other examples of rent-seeking. One of the most common ways of using government to

Yes, that's a literal textbook example of regulatory capture. There are many other examples of rent-seeking. One of the most common ways of using government to eliminate competition is what is referred to as "regulatory capture." This is the case where regulators end up acting in ways that benefit the industries that they regulate. Many government agencies are generally created with the high-minded notion of protecting the public from rapacious behavior of corporations. However, these corporations can use the government agencies to protect themselves from competition, most frequently by encouraging a set of regulations that makes it very difficult for newcomers to enter an industry. They use the creation of regulations as a barrier to entry. https://www.e-education.psu.edu/ebf200wd/node/160 https://www.e-education.psu.edu/ebf200wd/node/160