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Cartel Pricing Dynamics in the Presence of an Antitrust Authority

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  • Joseph E. Harrington, Jr.

    (Johns Hopkins University)

Abstract

Cartel pricing is characterized when firms are concerned about creating suspicions that a cartel has formed. Balancing concerns about maintaining the stability of the cartel with those of avoiding detection, the cartel may either (i) gradually raise price to its steady-state level or (ii) gradually raise price and then have it decline to its steady-state level. Antitrust laws may have a perverse effect as they make cartel stability easier and thus allow for higher cartel prices.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph E. Harrington, Jr., 2004. "Cartel Pricing Dynamics in the Presence of an Antitrust Authority," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 35(4), pages 651-673, Winter.
  • Handle: RePEc:rje:randje:v:35:y:2004:4:p:651-673
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • L4 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies

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