dc.description.abstract | This paper aims at establishing criteria which can point the way that the State must intervene in the XXIst century economy. The research is based on the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE) activities, a state company which resides in the outward bounds of the legal system, mainly concerning the analysis of the concentration acts among companies. Its purpose is to show that in the post-modern risk society, Law tends to develop at the outward bounds, beyond the traditional justice centers, and it demands the adoption of preventive actions, prior to the occurrence of damage as a condition to its effectiveness. As a consequence of this context, research evolves from the historical analysis of the State intervention in the economy during modern age, from the promulgation of the Constitution of 1924 up to the 1988 one, under the Systems Theory. Premises which can direct the actions of the State rise from past experiences. At the systemic plan, one can observe different functions, interferences and expectations nourished by the legal, political and economical systems, concerning the public powers actions in the economy. With the advent of the XXIst century post-modernity, the prevalence of dogmas and pretensions supported by the modern age systems are questioned. The characteristics of multi and fragmented communications make it impossible to evaluate accurately the risks produced by society, especially within the economic scope. The positioning of Law, lying on this scenario of instability, is built upon the high necessity of adopting preventive actions prior to the damage, from studies involving other sciences which complement legislation. Not only does the preventive paradigm steer the evaluation of the activities performed by CADE when examining the acts of concentration, but also the legislation in vigour (8.884/94 law) and pending for approval (Câmara Law Draft n. 6/2009). Both the systemic propositions and the conclusions made during this research are confirmed by the CADE and Justiça Federal decisions, when analyzing the concentration act involving Nestlé Brasil Ltda. and Chocolates Garoto S.A. companies. | pt_BR |