Impact of cartel enforcement on compliance in the chemical industry

This article examines the relationship between EU cartel enforcement in the chemical industry in the period 1997-2010 and compliance measures announced in the Annual Reports of the undertakings involved. It goes on to focus on Akzo Nobel NV's unique use of an internal amnesty programme, and the level of compliance in the industry following this period of enforcement. Its findings suggest cartel enforcement may have prompted significant investment in compliance measures, with some evidence of those measures resulting in earlier reporting in return for leniency.