Antitrust Enforcement and Marginal Deterrence
30 Pages Posted: 21 Dec 2011
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Antitrust Enforcement and Marginal Deterrence
Date Written: December 20, 2011
Abstract
We study antitrust enforcement in which the fine must obey four legal principles: punishments should fit the crime, proportionality, bankruptcy considerations, and minimum fines. We integrate these legal principles into an infinitely-repeated oligopoly model. Bankruptcy considerations ensure abnormal cartel profits. We derive the optimal fine schedule that achieves maximal social welfare under these legal principles. This optimal fine schedule induces collusion on a lower price making it more attractive than on higher prices. Also, raising minimum fines reduces social welfare and should never be implemented. Our analysis and results relate to the marginal deterrence literature by Shavell (1992) and Wilde (1992).
Keywords: Antitrust Policy, Antitrust Law, Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection, Stochastic and Dynamic Games, Repeated Games
JEL Classification: L4, K21, D43
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation