Colusão

Colusão refers to a secret agreement or cooperation between parties who should be acting in their own self-interest, often for the purpose of deceiving or defrauding a third party. It is a form of collusion that implies a breach of trust or a violation of rules or laws. This term is commonly used in legal and economic contexts, particularly in antitrust law, where it describes anticompetitive behavior.

In economic terms, colusão can manifest as price-fixing, bid-rigging, or market allocation among competitors. Companies engaging in colusão may agree to set prices at a certain level, decide which company will win a particular bid, or divide up a market to avoid competition. Such actions are illegal in many jurisdictions because they harm consumers by limiting choice and increasing prices. The goal of antitrust laws is to prevent colusão and ensure a competitive marketplace.

Beyond economics, colusão can also describe covert arrangements in politics or social situations. For instance, political actors might collude to manipulate an election or suppress dissent. In a more general sense, it describes any situation where individuals or groups secretly work together against a common adversary or to achieve a shared illicit objective. The essence of colusão lies in the hidden and often unethical nature of the agreement.