The consumer welfare standard (CWS) is a measure used to judge the effects of market consolidation or firm competitive practices. In the area of antitrust, the CWS is under fire—and not for the first time. President Dr. Lawrence Wu and Associate Director Dr. Craig Malam wrote a California Lawyers Association article titled “An Economic Perspective on the Usefulness of the Consumer Welfare Standard as a Guiding Framework for Antitrust Policy,” reviewing the standard and offering key points of consideration.