This paper analyzes dynamic cartel formation and antitrust enforcement when firms operate in demand-related markets. We show that cartel prosecution can have a knock-on effect: desisting a cartel in one market reduces profits and cartel stability and leads to the break-up of the cartel in the...

In this paper, we compare the distribution of price changes between collusive and noncollusive periods for ten major cartels. The first moments focus on previous research. We extend the discussion to the third (skewness) and fourth (kurtosis) moments. However, none of the above descriptive...

An antitrust authority deters collusion using fines and a leniency program. Unlike in most of the earlier literature, our firms have imperfect cumulative evidence of the collusion. That is, cartel conviction is not automatic if one firm reports: reporting makes conviction only more likely, the...

Applying a conjectural variations (CV) model introduced by Haskel and Scaramozzino (H&S model 1997), the paper examines the impact of trade liberalization on the Philippine cement industry where alleged cartel activities have taken place after the entry of the world's Big Three cement firms:...

The identification of markets is a standard feature of anti-trust investigations, and the substantive decision in many cases stands or falls on the precise market definition selected.Market shares are often used to help establish jurisdiction or, more generally, to sort out priorities for...

In reviewing the theoretical and empirical literature on collusion, this paper distills methods for detecting cartels and distinguishing collusion from competition.

Die weltwirtschaftliche Verflechtung hat in der Nachkriegszeit stetig zugenommen. Da diese Entwicklung mit beträchtlichen Handelsgewinnen verbunden war, ist sie grundsätzlich positiv zu bewerten. Das Zusammenwachsen der Märkte erzeugt aber auch zusätzliche Spannungen, denn mit der...

Nicht zuletzt durch eine Reihe spektakulärer Unternehmenszusammenschlüsse ist die Frage nach den Ursachen, den Folgen und den Möglichkeiten bzw. Notwendigkeiten staatlicher Eingriffe im Rahmen der Wettbewerbspolitik erneut in das Zentrum der wirtschaftspolitischen Diskussion geraten....

Gaining access to technological assets and patents, in particular, has long been a major motive and objective for firm acquisitions. On the one hand, patents are used as a building instrument for the acquirer's technology portfolio. On the other hand, patents can be attractive because of their...

Under ex ante access regulation entrants often claim that access fees are excessive. I show that this is only the case if further entry is admitted. If the entrant is protected from further entry it would agree with the incumbent upon a strictly positive access fee which may exceed the efficient...