Maya and Andrew are real estate agents who work for competing brokerages. They don't like a new discount broker and decide together not to show any of the new broker's listings. This is a violation of the Sherman Act because it is:

• A. Price fixing
• B. A group boycott
• C. Market allocation
• D. Restraint of trade

Answer: (B)

This item tests how coordinated refusals to deal by competitors violate antitrust law. When two competing brokerages agree not to show the new discount broker’s listings, they’re engaging in a group boycott—a collective refusal to deal with a third party. Under the Sherman Act, such agreements among competitors that restrain trade are illegal because they reduce competition in the market for real estate listings and services.

Price fixing would involve agreeing on prices, which isn’t what’s happening here. Market allocation would be dividing markets or customers, which also isn’t the scenario. Restraint of trade is the broad idea, but the specific form shown is a group boycott, the precise illegal restraint in this case.