(だんごう)

だんごう
noun
bid rigging; collusion
1. bid rigging; collusion
An illegal practice where competing parties secretly agree on bids for contracts, especially in public works projects, to manipulate the outcome.
談合(だんごう)発覚(はっかく)した。
The bid rigging was discovered.
大手(おおて)ゼネコンが談合(だんごう)摘発(てきはつ)された。
Major general contractors were caught for bid rigging.
公共事業(こうきょうじぎょう)入札(にゅうさつ)談合(だんごう)(おこな)われていた。
Bid rigging was taking place in public works bidding.

談合(だんごう) refers to illegal collusion in bidding.

USAGE:

  • Most commonly used for bid rigging in construction and public works contracts
  • Companies secretly agree who will win each bid and at what price
  • Illegal under antitrust and fair trade laws

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 談合(だんごう)する: to collude, to rig bids
  • 談合(だんごう)事件(じけん): bid-rigging scandal
  • 官製(かんせい)談合(だんごう): government-led bid rigging
  • 談合(だんごう)防止(ぼうし)する: to prevent bid rigging

ORIGINAL MEANING:
The word originally meant "to consult together" (a neutral meaning), but now primarily refers to illegal collusion.