Konglomeratkoncentration

Konglomeratkoncentration describes the degree to which economic activity, ownership, and managerial control in an economy or sector is concentrated in a small number of conglomerates—large corporate groups that own and operate a portfolio of firms across multiple industries. In such systems, a few groups can exert significant influence over capital allocation, competition, and policy.

Causes include the historical development of family-owned business groups, access to financing via related banks, regulatory environments that favor scale and diversification, and barriers to entry that make it easier for large groups to expand. Cross-ownership and strategic diversification can also be used to manage risk and capital constraints within a national business system.

Measurement relies on market-structure indicators such as the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index and concentration ratios (CR4, CR8), as well as ownership-based metrics like the share of assets or revenues controlled by the largest conglomerates, the extent of cross-ownership, and networks of interlocking directors. These measures help assess how much economic power is held by a few groups relative to smaller firms or independent competitors.

Economic and social effects can be mixed. Potential efficiency gains, better access to capital, and diversified risk are possible benefits of konglomeratkoncentration, but there are costs: reduced competition, higher barriers to entry, governance challenges, possible misallocation of resources, and heightened systemic risk if large groups encounter distress or fail.

Regulation and policy responses include competition-law monitoring, limits on cross-ownership, divestiture or restructuring requirements, enhanced corporate governance and transparency rules, and measures to promote competition and SME access to finance. Context and data on konglomeratkoncentration vary across sectors and countries and may evolve with regulatory changes and economic cycles.