karteliyhteistyön

Kartelliyhteistyö, often translated as cartel cooperation, refers to a form of collusion between independent companies operating in the same industry. These companies, rather than competing, agree to coordinate their activities to achieve common goals, typically to increase their collective profits. This coordination can take various forms, including price fixing, market allocation, or limiting production.

The primary objective of carteliyhteistyö is to reduce competition, which allows member firms to maintain higher prices and reduce the need for costly innovation or efficiency improvements. By acting as a unified bloc, a cartel can exert significant market power, often resembling that of a monopoly. This can lead to higher prices for consumers and reduced choice.

Cartels are generally illegal in most jurisdictions due to their anti-competitive nature. Antitrust laws and competition authorities are established to detect, investigate, and prosecute cartels. Penalties for cartel participants can be severe, including substantial fines and, in some cases, imprisonment for individuals involved. Despite legal prohibitions, cartels continue to emerge, often operating covertly to avoid detection. The effectiveness and longevity of a cartel depend on factors such as the number of participants, the ease of monitoring adherence to the agreement, and the likelihood of detection by authorities.