Screening for Cartels in Procurement Procedures – Lessons Learned

Sep 18, 2014

CPI Europe Column edited by Anna Tzanaki (Competition Policy International) presents:

Screening for Cartels in Procurement Procedures – Lessons Learned by Josef Ålander (Project Manager, Cartels and Mergers Unit, Swedish Competition Authority)

Intro by Anna Tzanaki (Competition Policy International)

Our September 2014 edition of the CPI Europe Column looks at some recent developments in the cartel detection practice of the Swedish Competition Authority. Marking one year since its launch, Josef Ålander presents a pilot project of the authority that uses proactive economic methods to identify cartels in procurement procedures. The author provides a quick overview of the screening process as well as the methods in use or under development. Beyond the practical technicalities, he evaluates the experience gained from this novel Swedish project with its promising cartel screens, and he assesses its successes and the challenges it poses, suggesting points for further improvement.​

Screening for Cartels in Procurement Procedures – Lessons Learned

Last year the Swedish Competition Authority launched a pilot project with the aim of detecting cartels in public procurements by using proactive economic methods. Now, almost a year later, what lessons can be learned from the project?

Introduction

In recent years, economic methods in general and empirical screens in particular have become increasingly important as a means for competition authorities to detect cartel act