When you compete in the market, you have to respect some rules, as in a sports game. The most important rule is to take your strategic decisions (such as fixing your price) independently from your competitors. In particular, fixing prices with competitors, dividing markets with them, collectively excluding new competitors from the market ("collective boycott") are absolutely prohibited by competition law. This kind of behavior -called "cartel"- is injustified because the price increase is not the result of your merits (better products, innovative marketing, ...). Antitrust authorities fight against this anticompetitive practices, which cause huge damages to the economy and to consumers.
My papers on cartels
My papers on cartels
"Cartels in Europe : main features" (with Constance Monnier) [2010], published in Concurrences, n° 2 -->click HERE
"Les cartels restent un cancer pour l'économie" (in French), published in the newspaper Le Figaro, 2 March 2010 --> click HERE
Le portrait robot des cartels en Europe [2010] (with Constance Monnier, in French), Working Paper ---> click HERE
Fines against hard core cartels in Europe : the myth of over enforcement [2009] (with Constance Monnier), Working paper PRISM---> Click HERE ; a short version in French has been published in Concurrences n° 4-2009 --> Click HERE
"Consommateurs, les ententes vous spolient !", published (in French) on the website Telos, 14 April 2008, with a version published in the newspaper La Tribune, 22 April 2008 ---> Click HERE
"Le calcul de l'amende en matière de cartel : une approche économique" (with Constance Monnier, in French) [2007], published in Concurrences n° 3 ---> Click HERE
(in this paper, we develop a simple method for estimating the illicit gain caused by a cartel and the "optimal" fine the Antitrust authorities have to impose to deter cartels).
The probability of getting caught in the European Union (with Constance Monnier and Renaud Legal) [2008], Working Paper College of Europe BEER n° 12 ---> Click HERE
"Cartel profiles in the European Union" (with Constance Monnier) [2007] Concurrences n°3 ---> Click HERE
"Quelles sanctions contre les cartels ?", [2007], slides (in French) presented at the French Supreme Court Conference ---> Click HERE
A paper (in French) on the sanctions against cartels [2006], published in Revue Internationale de Droit Economique, n° 1 ---> Click HERE et HERE
A paper "Haro sur les cartels" [2006], published (in French) in Societal n° 52 ---> Click HERE
A paper published (in French) in L'expansion (1 February 2007) on cartels ---> Click HERE
Some statistics on cartels
The main sectors where cartels are formed (in Europe) ---> Click HERE
A statistical study on fines in Europe (1998-2007) ---> Click HERE
Some videos on cartels
The trailer of the film "Fair fight in the marketplace " with a focus on the lysin cartel ---> Click HERE ; You can buy the complete film Click HERE
A press meeting with Neelie Kroes, former Competition Commissionner, who announces in 2009 that the European Commission imposes a 1,1 billion euro fine against the gas cartel ---> Click HERE
A press meeting with Neelie Kroes, former Competition Commissionner, who announces in April 2007 that the European Commission imposes a huge fine on the Dutch beer cartel ---> Click HERE
A film, published by the Dutch competition authority (NMA), which shows the leniency procedure against cartels---> Click HERE
Another film "Be the first to tell", published by the Swedish competition authority, about the leniency procedure ---> Click HERE
The FBI videos about secret meetings of the lysin cartel (divided in 7 parts) :
part 1 (meeting in Atlanta, January 1995) ---> Click HERE
part 2 (a phone call, July 1993) ---> Click HERE
part 3 (meeting in Hawai, March 1994) ---> Click HERE
part 5 (meeting in Irvine, October 1993) ---> Click HERE
"The informant" by Steve Soderbergh (with Matt Damon), a film inspired by the true story of the lysin cartel---> Click HERE
Other papers on cartels
- One of the biggest cartels ever detected : the vitamins cartel
A paper of J. Connor [2006] The great global vitamins cartel ---> Click HERE
- On cartels duration and price overcharge
A paper of J. Connor Price fixing overcharges : revised 2nd edition [2010] ---> Click HERE
A paper of M. Levenstein & V. Suslow What determines cartel success ? [2006] ---> Cliquer HERE
- On sanctions against cartels
A report (in French), conducted by J.M. Folz, former CEO of Peugeot, on appropriate sanctions against anticompetitive practices --> click HERE
A paper of W. Wils Optimal Antitrust Fines: Theory and Practice [2006] ---> Click HERE
A paper of W. Wils [2007] The European Commission's 2006 Guidelines on Antitrust Fines: a Legal and Economic Analysis ---> Click HERE
A paper of P. Buccirossi & G. Spagnolo [2005] Optimal fines in the era of whisteblowers : should price fixers still go to prison ? ---> Click HERE
- On leniency programs
A paper of C. Lemaire [2005] (in French) Un regard français : de la loi NRE au programme de clémence ---> Click HERE
- On international cartels and their effects on developing countries
A paper of M. Levenstein et V. Suslow [2008] "International cartels", Issues in competition law and policy, 20 p. ---> Click HERE
A paper of M. Levenstein et V. Suslow [2004] Contemporary international cartels and developing countries : economic effects and implications for competition policy --->Click HERE
A paper of F. Jenny [2003] (in French) Sortir de la jungle : pour une gouvernance des marchés mondiaux --->Click HERE
- On the public opinion about cartels
A paper of A. Stephan [2007] Survey of public attitude to price-fixing and cartel enforcement in Britain ---> Click HERE
Some useful links on cartels
The website of the French competition authority---> Click HERE
The toys case (vertical agreement) [2007 ; France] ---> Click HERE
The website of the DG Competition (European Commission) ---> Click HERE
The vitamins cartel [2001 ; European Commission] ---> Click HERE
The lift cartel [2007 ; European Commission] ---> Click HERE
