This paper reports results from an experiment studying how …nes, leniency and rewards for whistleblowers a¤ect cartel formation and prices. Antitrust without leniency reduces cartel formation but increases cartel prices: subjects use costly …nes as punishments. Leniency improves antitrust by strengthening deterrence but stabilizes surviving cartels: subjects appear to anticipate the lower post-conviction prices after reports/leniency. With rewards, prices fall at the competitive level.Overall our results suggest a strong cartel deterrence potential for well-run leniency and reward schemes. These …ndings may also be relevant for similar white-collar organized crimes, like corruption and fraud.JEL codes: C73, C92 and L41

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This paper presents results from a laboratory experiment studying the channels through which different law enforcement strategies deter cartel formation. With leniency policies offering immunity to the first reporting party, a high fine is the main determinant of deterrence, having a strong effect even when the probability of exogenous detection is zero. Deterrence appears to be mainly driven by 'distrust'; here, the fear of partners deviating and reporting. Absent leniency, the probability of detection and the expected fine matter more, and low fines are exploited to punish defections. The results appear relevant to several other forms of crimes that share cartels' strategic features, including corruption and financial fraud.

We provide a possible explanation for the empirical puzzle that mergers often reduce profits, but raise share prices. If being an "insider" is better than being an "outsider", firms may merge to preempt their partner merging with a rival. The insiders' stock market value is increased, since the risk of becoming an outsider is eliminated. These results are derived in an endogenousmerger model, predicting the conditions under which mergers occur, when they occur, and how the surplus is shared. (JEL: L13, L41, G34, C78) 1. The early literature was surveyed by Ruback (1983), andJarrell, Brickley, andNetter (1988). It contained some debate concerning the effect of merger on the aggregate value of the merging firms. Later contributions more clearly indicate that this effect is positive, see e.g.,

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