How to combat the “new time” cartels

Cartel investigation in the new reality was discussed in Brussels at the international session on the “Law “On Protection of Competition” organized on 16 December by the “Vedomosti” newspaper

“Intensive development of information technologies results in “proactive” anticompetitive practices. Collusions become increasingly more sophisticated and difficult to prove”, emphasized Stats-Secretary, Deputy Head of FAS Andrey Tsarikovsky. “Therefore the methods of exposing them should be based on state-of-the-art methods and technologies”.

Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Andrey Tenishev divided cartels into traditional and modern ones. Around 90% cartels exposed by FAS are “traditional”. Efficiency of their investigation is supported by positive judicial practice, improvement of traditional methods of obtaining information (inspections, enquiries) and competition advocacy in general.

The remaining 10% are “modern” cartels, but their number is growing consistently. They require developing such counter-methods as data analysis, mathematical modeling and new approaches to economic analysis.

Chairman of OECD Competition Law and Policy Committee, Frederique Jenny; General Director of Austria’s Competition Authority, Theodor Tanner; lawyers, economists and experts took part in the event. The main aim of the international Round Table is exchanging experience, the best practices on countering cartels and developing cooperation between the antimonopoly bodies in this field.