> I'm saying that the independent distributors of gasoline have no monoply on the market, but still manage to ensure that they all get the same cut anyways. Na

> I'm saying that the independent distributors of gasoline have no monoply on the market, but still manage to ensure that they all get the same cut anyways. Naturally. That has to happen if you are selling a commodity. By literal definition, there is no way to differentiate yourself in the market. You cannot build a better OS for your gasoline or wheat to try and extract more profit. All you can offer is basic gasoline or wheat. The exact same gasoline or wheat as the guy across the street. Why would a customer ever pay you more for the exact same thing as the guy across the street? Matching the price of your competition is the only hope you have of making a sale. If you don't take an identical cut, you won't have a business at all. > There's nothing stopping them all from agreeing to fix the market far above what the price could be because they see an opportunity for profit. You mean other than the practicalities of the real world that make it almost impossible to pull off? Milk is another commodity. Being Canadian, you likely know that subject well given the events that are going on right now. Why do you think Canadian dairy farmers are shaking in their boots right now given that they can simply get together as a group and fix the price to fend off any changes that may come? They've already had decades of practice.