Turujaotamine

Turujaotamine is the practice of agreements between competing firms to divide the market among themselves in order to reduce competition. Such agreements may specify geographic areas where each firm operates, customer groups they may serve, product lines they focus on, or distribution channels they use. Market division is a form of cartel and is generally unlawful in many jurisdictions because it directly restricts competition and harms consumers and suppliers.

In most legal systems, market allocation agreements are prohibited under competition or antitrust rules. In the European Union and many member states, these agreements can be void and subject to substantial fines; individuals and companies may face criminal penalties in some cases. Some jurisdictions offer leniency programs to encourage whistleblowers who disclose the conduct to authorities.

The effects of turujaotamine include higher prices, fewer choices, and reduced innovation, as competitors coordinate rather than compete. It can also lead to inefficiencies and misallocation of resources. Because such arrangements can be covert, detection often relies on market analysis, complaints, investigations by competition authorities, and information from whistleblowers.

Enforcement and penalties vary by jurisdiction but commonly include fines proportional to turnover, civil penalties, and, in some cases, imprisonment for individuals. Not all coordinated activities are illegal; legitimate joint ventures and information-sharing that do not restrict competition may be allowed if they meet specific legal criteria.

Turujaotamine is closely related to the concepts of cartel, price-fixing, and market division and is a central concern of competition policy in many economies.