[skybrian]

It’s basic economics that a monopoly can charge more than firms in a competitive market. In the presence of competition, prices will be closer to cost. For a monopoly, demand still slopes downward as they raise the price, but they can set the price higher.

Collusion allows firms to get somewhat closer to the monopoly price.

I don’t how much this software really does to enable collusion, though? It seems like some landlords might defect if they have too many vacancies?

[FesterCluck]

It gives the property management insight into rates charged for similarly sized and accommodated properties within their area. It starts as a means to compete in a market where rates aren't posted on the walls. Very quickly as the software becomes industry standard the dynamic reverses, and multi-property owners use it as a form of data-washing, knowing their competitors use the same software, as a means of price fixing without "speaking" to one another.

This part of RealPage's offerings is a commercial price fixing collusion tool, plain and simple.

- Disclosure: I formerly wrote software for and was employed by RealPage, though not on this specific product.