Cartel vs Oligopoly - Difference and Comparison
Table of Contents
In economics, an oligopoly is a market structure where the industry is dominated by a small number of sellers (oligopolists). The dominant sellers, since they are so few in number, are each likely to be aware of the actions of the others. The decisions of one firm influence, and are influenced by, the decisions of other firms.
A cartel is a special case of oligopoly when competing firms in an industry collude to create explicit, formal agreements to fix prices and production quantities. In theory, a cartel can be formed in any industry but it is only practical in an oligopoly where there is a small number of firms. Cartels are usually prohibited by anti-trust law.
Comparison chart
Differences — Similarities —
 | Cartel | Oligopoly |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | An explicit, formal agreement between firms in an industry to fix price and production quantity. | An economic market condition where numerous sellers have their presence in one single market. A small number of large firms that dominate the industry. |
| Prices | Unusually high. Prices are fixed by cartel members. | Moderate/fair pricing due to competition in market. But much higher than perfect competition (where there is a large number of buyers and sellers) |
| Characteristics | A small number of firms dominate the industry. Prices and production quantities are fixed. Product is undifferentiated. | A small number of firms dominate the industry. These firms compete with each other based on product differentiation, price, customer service etc. |
| Barriers to entry | Barriers to entry are very high as it is difficult to enter the industry because of economies of scale. | Barriers to entry are very high as it is difficult to enter the industry because of economies of scale. |
| Sources of Power | Market making ability by an explicit agreement between the dominant players in the industry. | Market making ability because of very few firms in the industry. Each firm can therefore significantly influence the market by setting price or production quantity. |
| Examples | OPEC, lysine cartel, Federal Reserve | Health insurers, wireless carriers, beer (Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors), media (TV broadcasting, book publishing, movies), etc. |
Examples
OPEC is the cartel of oil producing nations. Murray Rothbard considered the federal reserve as a public cartel of private banks. In the United States, telecommunications and broadband services are oligopolistic industries. Health insurance is another example of an oligopoly because there are very few insurers in each state.
Characteristics of Products
Cartels are more stable if the industry deals in commodities rather than differentiated products because it is easier to fix price and production quantities. In such situations, if there is any change in the market share of one member of the cartel, the member will immediately know that this is potentially because of rise or cut in prices made by another member.
In an oligopoly the products may be homogeneous or differentiated. Oligopolies are able to set prices (they have market-making power) but they also compete with other firms in the industry based on product differentiation.
Game Theory Implications
In Game Theory terms, a cartel arrangement is like prisoner's dilemma. All the members of the cartel will be better off if they stick to the agreed prices and production quantities. But for each individual member, it is advantageous to cheat by increasing production or reducing price (thereby selling more product). This is why cartels are very hard to sustain in practice, and are often short-lived.
Oligopoly theory also makes heavy use of game theory. Oligopolistic models include:
- Stackelberg's duopoly: There is a leader in the market, a firm that takes action first e.g. determining level of production. Once the market leader has made this commitment, followers in the industry take their decisions.
- Cournot's duopoly: There is no product differentiation but firms do not collude. Each firm has an influence on prices and they exercise this by choosing the quantity in which to manufacture the product. All firms choose quantities simultaneously.
- Bertrand's oligopoly: This is similar to the Cournot model but firms exercise market power by choosing prices.
References
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"Cartel vs Oligopoly." Diffen.com. Diffen LLC, n.d. Web. 23 Jun 2022. < >
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