What is collusion?

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Collusion refers to a secretive and unethical collaboration or cooperation between two or more individuals or entities to deceive, manipulate, or gain an unfair advantage over others. It typically involves a conspiracy or agreement to engage in fraudulent or illegal activities, often to circumvent rules, regulations, or laws.

Collusion can occur in various contexts, including business, politics, sports, academia, and criminal activities. The key element of collusion is intentional and covert coordination among the involved parties, which can have significant negative consequences for others and the overall integrity of the system or environment.

In business settings, collusion often takes the form of anti-competitive practices where companies conspire to control prices, restrict market competition, or allocate markets among themselves. For example, two or more competing companies might agree to fix prices artificially high, creating a monopoly-like situation that harms consumers and prevents fair market competition. This collusion is illegal in many jurisdictions and subject to antitrust laws and regulations.

Collusion can occur between politicians, government officials, or political parties to manipulate elections, influence policy decisions, or engage in corrupt practices. This can involve backroom deals, bribery, or the manipulation of information to maintain or consolidate power. Political collusion undermines democratic processes, erodes public trust, and can lead to social and economic instability.