Cartels as Small World Networks: Evidence from Graphite Electrode Cartel

Ponce Carlos J. and Flavia Roldán
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Ponce Carlos J.: Departamento de Economía, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Erasmo Escala 1835, 8340539 Santiago, Chile

Review of Network Economics, 2017, vol. 16, issue 1, 27-61

Abstract: This article contributes to understanding the organization of collusive agreements by studying the inner-workings of the graphite electrode cartel. For this purpose: (i) we construct a database that comprises 49 meetings between 24 cartel members during the life period of the agreement, and (ii) we develop a conceptual framework that captures the affiliation of cartel members to meetings. Using statistical methods of social networks, we find that the cartel is organized around a few highly connected sub-networks that are close to each other.

Keywords: affiliation networks; cartels; coordination; small-worlds; vulnerability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D85 L1 L2 L4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1515/rne-2016-0047

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