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The Anticompetitiveness of a Private Information Exchange of Prices

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  • Harrington, Joseph E.

Abstract

Competitors privately sharing price intentions is universally prohibited under antitrust/competition law. In contrast, there is no common well-accepted treatment of competitors privately sharing prices. This paper is the first to show that a private exchange of prices can result in higher prices for consumers. Conditions relevant to determining when such an information exchange is anticompetitive are identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Harrington, Joseph E., 2022. "The Anticompetitiveness of a Private Information Exchange of Prices," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:85:y:2022:i:c:s0167718721000850
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2021.102793
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Timo Klein & Bertram Neurohr, 2023. "Should Private Exchanges of List Price Information Be Presumed to Be Anticompetitive?," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 33-57, June.
    2. Neven, Damien & Piccolo, Salvatore & Andreu, Enrique, 2021. "Price Authority and Information Sharing with Competing Principals," CEPR Discussion Papers 16753, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Andreu, Enrique & Neven, Damien & Piccolo, Salvatore, 2023. "Price authority and information sharing with competing supply chains," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. van Damme, Eric, 2023. "The beauty and the beast : Het spel en de knikkers," Other publications TiSEM dfd3c8df-e740-48f0-962b-e, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

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    Keywords

    Infomaton exchange; Collusion;

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