shrug they made losses of 15 billion dollars and all that would be required to stem future losses in what has become a stable duopoly is one conversation.
The path of least resistance is not going to prison.
You realize that in publicly traded corporations decisions are made by whole teams of people? And that people talk? Word gets out, company gets fined more than they made, executives go to prison. The US actually prosecutes this stuff, the same way they vigorously prosecute insider trading.
A couple of neighboring grocery stores can realistically collude to raise prices. Multinational public corporations, not so much.
You don't need to lecture me about the just world hypothesis, I'm well aware of it thanks. The insult isn't appreciated.
You should realize that at a purely practical level collusion is far more difficult to achieve than you seem to think.
A few senior managers are going to do something super-risky without the knowledge of general counsel, the board, etc.? Something that can get them sent to prison? So their stock options go up a little bit? While 99% of the benefit goes to remaining investors? At the risk of being caught and the entire company being fined, to the detriment of all remaining investors as well?
Not to mention the senior managers need to justify to C-suite, board, etc. what their strategy is, and why raising prices won't result in the competition eating their lunch. And the C-suite and board aren't dumb.
On top of this, collusion can result in defectors as well -- company A raises prices, company B promised they would but doesn't (or lowers them again later) -- and then what?
It's not so easy. Collusion is unstable, risky in multiple ways, and difficult. I'm not saying that it never happens, but regarding large publicly traded companies, it's by far the exception, not the rule.
None of this has to do with what we wish the world was like. It's just basic incentives and coordination. But sure, have fun with your conspiracy theories.
I tend to assume the path of least resistance.