Cartels Episodes

Professor Allan Fels, inaugural Chairman of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission discusses with Burgernomics host Ross MacDowell the realities of policing restrictive business practices that harm Australian consumers. If the law of supply and demand is operating efficiently, how can monopolies exist? Prof. Fels’ defines a monopoly and discusses how some of Australia’s leading organisation maybe monopolies. Has the deregulation of Australia’s telecommunication industry worked for t...

Australian' have long believed that petrol prices are 'rigged', plain English for illegal collusion and cartel behaviour. Market forces are meant to change the price of petrol to reflect changing demand, the cost of production and the ability to supply petrol. An empirical study conducted by Professor David Byrne concluded the petrol market does not operate as a free market.

David Byrne Professor of Economics at Melbourne University is Australia’s leading expert in retail petrol pricing. With Burgernomics host, Ross MacDowell they discuss collusion, cartels and the associated costs to the Australian motorist. Professor Byrne has conducted empirical studies proving exactly what most people believe, there is something ‘funny’ going on with the price of the petrol we buy at the bowser. Australia's petrol market, a freely competitive market place benefiting the consumer? Probably not.