The Theory of Collusion and Competition Policy (The MIT Press)

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About The Theory Of Collusion And Competition Policy

Product Description A review of the theoretical research on unlawful collusion, focusing on the impact and optimal design of competition law and enforcement. Collusion occurs when firms in a market coordinate their behavior for the purpose of producing a supracompetitive outcome. The literature on the theory of collusion is deep and broad but most of that work does not take account of the possible illegality of collusion. Recently, there has been a growing body of research that explicitly focuses on collusion that runs afoul of competition law and thereby makes firms potentially liable for penalties. This book, by an expert on the subject, reviews the theoretical research on unlawful collusion, with a focus on two issues: the impact of competition law and enforcement on whether, how long, and how much firms collude; and the optimal design of competition law and enforcement. The book begins by discussing general issues that arise when models of collusion take into account competition law and enforcement. It goes on to consider game-theoretic models that encompass the probability of detection and penalties incurred when convicted, and examines how these policy instruments affect the frequency of cartels, cartel duration, cartel participation, and collusive prices. The book then considers the design of competition law and enforcement, examining such topics as the formula for penalties and leniency programs. The book concludes with suggested future lines of inquiry into illegal collusion. Review Joseph Harrington is probably the scholar who has contributed the most to the theory of collusion. In this work, he shares his knowledge with us, and the result is a concise, clear, and insightful book. I have learned a lot from it, and I highly recommend it to economic researchers and graduate students who want to better understand the economics of collusion as well as competition enforcement in this area.― Massimo Motta, ICREA Research Professor, Universitat Pompeu Fabra; GSE Research Professor, Barcelona Graduate School of Economics About the Author Joseph E. Harrington, Jr., is Patrick T. Harker Professor in the Department of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.