cartel

Collusive business alliance

A cartel is a group of independent businesses or nations that coordinate to control prices, limit competition, or dominate a market.

OPEC is perhaps the most famous cartel, controlling oil production.

The term also refers to criminal organizations, particularly Latin American drug trafficking syndicates: The Sinaloa cartel controls much of the border region.

More loosely, cartel suggests any powerful coalition acting in concert against outside interests.

economic

monopoly

One seller, no substitutes

oligopolyFew firms dominate market
price-fixingCoordinated artificial cost-setting
collusionFraudulent secret cooperation

antitrust · quota · OPEC · trust · consortium · bid-rigging · commodities · petroleum · anti-competitive · exploitation

organization

syndicate

Combined group pursuing shared interest

allianceFormal union of parties
coalitionTemporary alliance for action
consortiumCooperative group for ventures

bloc · confederation · combine · conglomerate · association · federation · network · partnership · cooperation · collaboration

criminal

mafia

Criminal organization using intimidation

smugglingIllegal covert transport
gangOrganized criminal group
underworldRealm of the departed

mob · ring · boss · capo · kingpin · enforcer · hitman · narco · sicario · turf

power

dominance

Superior influence over others

controlAuthority to direct
hegemonyDominant group's control
influencePower to affect others

authority · command · supremacy · grip · stranglehold · leverage · muscle · intimidation · coercion · corruption

cartel

monopoly

syndicate

mafia

dominance

cartel

Opposites

Phrases

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