{"title":"Cartels as Small World Networks: Evidence from Graphite Electrode Cartel","authors":"Carlos J. Ponce, Flavia Roldán","doi":"10.1515/rne-2016-0047","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"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.","PeriodicalId":45659,"journal":{"name":"Review of Network Economics","volume":"66 1","pages":"27 - 61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9000,"publicationDate":"2017-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"3","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Review of Network Economics","FirstCategoryId":"96","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1515/rne-2016-0047","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ECONOMICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 3
Abstract
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.
期刊介绍:
The Review of Network Economics seeks to help policy makers, academics, and practitioners keep informed of new research and policy debate in network economics and related subjects that are relevant to the study of network industries. By publishing high quality research on topical issues relevant to network industries, it is hoped readers will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the economic issues involved and that this will improve the quality of decision making by private and public organisations, and debate among researchers. The articles can cover specific network industries, or may deal with general issues that have relevance to a number of different network industries, including topics in the economics of networks, regulation, competition law, or industrial organisation. Papers that provide insights into policy debates are especially welcome, as are up-to-date surveys, book reviews, and comments.