Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/86492 
Year of Publication: 
2005
Series/Report no.: 
Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. 05-049/1
Publisher: 
Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam and Rotterdam
Abstract: 
In its landmark ruling in Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois in 1977, the U.S. Supreme Court restricted standing to sue for recovery of antitrust damages to direct purchasers. However, antitrust damages are typically (in part) passed on to intermediaries lower in the chain of production and ultimately to consumers. We show that the Illinois Brick rule facilitates collusion. It allows an upstream cartel to shield itself from private damage claims by forwarding a share of cartel profits to its direct purchasers. These benefits dissuade the direct purchasers from exercising their exclusive right to sue for private damages. The cartel can achieve this by rationing inputs at low prices. Several U.S. antitrust cases show symptoms of Illinois Walls.
Subjects: 
Antitrust
treble private damages
Illinois Brick
tacit collusion
vertical restraints
rationing
JEL: 
D4
L1
L4
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
432.32 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.