Editing Cartel (section)

== History ==
Cartels have existed since ancient times.<ref>Hans-Heinrich Barnikel: ''Kartelle in Deutschland.'' In: Ders. (Hrsg.): ''Theorie und Praxis der Kartelle'', Darmstadt&nbsp;1972, S.&nbsp;1.</ref> [[Guild]]s in the European [[Middle Ages]], associations of craftsmen or merchants of the same trade, have been regarded as cartel-like.<ref>Holm A. Leonhardt: ''Kartelltheorie und Internationale Beziehungen. Theoriegeschichtliche Studien'', Hildesheim&nbsp;2013, p.&nbsp;79.</ref> Tightly organized sales cartels existed in the mining industry of the late Middle Ages, like the 1301 salt syndicate in [[Kingdom of France (987–1498)|France]] and [[Kingdom of Naples|Naples]], or the Alaun cartel of 1470 between the [[Papal State]] and Naples.<ref>Nino Herlitzka: ''Bemerkungen zur historischen Entwicklung von Kartellen.'' In: Ludwig Kastl (Ed.): ''Kartelle in der Wirklichkeit.'' Köln&nbsp;1963, p.&nbsp;124–127.</ref> Both unions had common sales organizations for overall production called the ''Societas Communis Vendicionis'' ('Common Sales Society').

[[Laissez-faire]] (liberal) economic conditions dominated Europe and North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Around 1870, cartels first appeared in industries formerly under [[free-market]] conditions.<ref>Holm A. Leonhardt: ''Kartelltheorie und Internationale Beziehungen. Theoriegeschichtliche Studien'', Hildesheim&nbsp;2013, S.&nbsp;80–87.</ref> Although cartels existed in all economically developed countries, the core area of cartel activities was in central Europe. The [[German Empire]] and [[Austria-Hungary]] were nicknamed the "lands of the cartels".<ref>Holm A. Leonhardt: ''Kartelltheorie und Internationale Beziehungen. Theoriegeschichtliche Studien'', Hildesheim&nbsp;2013, S.&nbsp;83–84.</ref> Cartels were also widespread in the United States during the period of [[Robber baron (industrialist)|robber baron]]s and industrial [[Trust (business)|trust]]s.<ref>Holm Arno Leonhardt: The development of cartel theory between 1883 and the 1930s. Hildesheim&nbsp;2018. p.&nbsp;18.</ref>

The creation of cartels increased globally after [[World War I|World War&nbsp;I]]. They became the leading form of [[industrial organisation|market organization]], particularly in Europe and Japan. In the 1930s, authoritarian regimes such as [[Nazi Germany]], Italy under [[Mussolini]], and Spain under [[Francisco Franco|Franco]] used cartels to organize their [[Economics of fascism|corporatist economies]]. Between the late 19th century and around 1945, the United States was ambivalent about cartels and trusts. There were periods of both opposition to [[market concentration]] and relative tolerance of cartels. During [[World War II|World War&nbsp;II]], the United States strictly turned away from cartels.<ref>Holm A. Leonhardt: ''Kartelltheorie und Internationale Beziehungen. Theoriegeschichtliche Studien''. Hildesheim&nbsp;2013, p.&nbsp;251–292.</ref> After 1945, American-promoted [[Economic liberalism|market liberalism]] led to a worldwide cartel ban, where cartels continue to be obstructed in an increasing number of countries and circumstances.