Firm Behavior under Different Market Structures Flashcards
How is marginal cost derived?
The increase in total cost that arises from an extra unit of productio
How is marginal cost related to total cost?
The portion of total cost resulting from an extra unit of production.
What is the specific formula to calculate marginal cost?
Change in total cost divided by change in quantity
If Dave’s company has a total cost of $100 when quantity output is 5, and a total cost of $115 when quantity output is 6, what is the marginal cost of producing the 6th unit?
15.00
Total cost is made of two types of costs, what are they?
Fixed and Variable.
How does a firm determine to shut down in the short-run? What rule characterizes this?
If the revenue that it would earn from producing is less than its variable costs of production. P
What is a price taker? Which of the market structures are characterized as being “price takers”?
One who must accept the price as the market determines. Competitive markets
When a market is characterized as being a price taker, what fundamental shape does the demand curve for this market take?
Horizontal line.
How is the demand curve for a perfectly competitive firm distinct from the demand curve for a monopolistic market?
Downward-sloping
What does “downward sloping” with regards to a demand curve mean?
The monopoly has to accept a lower price if it wants to sell more output.
Where do firms with market power determine the quantity of product/service they will produce?
A firm chooses a quantity of output such that marginal revenue equals marginal cost. The firm chooses quantity so that price equals marginal cost. Thus, the firm’s marginal-cost curve is its supply curve.
What is the primary goal/objective of the firm?
Maximize profit.
If the firm has price setting capacity, how will they use information about marginal costs and marginal revenues in order to accomplish their primary objective?
The monopolist’s profit-maximizing quantity of output is determined by the intersection of the marginal-revenue curve and the marginal-cost curve.
Describe the basic distinctions between the market models with respect to: number of market participants, type of product being marketed, ease of entry/exit into the market, and the prevalence of advertising/marketing.
Monopoly and Oligopoly have one to few firms, with limited products (cable TV), entry is difficult, and advertising is a natural feature. Monopolistic competition/perfect competition have many firms, mono comp has differentiated products (novels/movies) and perfect comp has identical products, entry is easy, and spend very little on advertising.
What fundamental truth is realized when studying the behavior of an oligopolistic firm within the context/model called “prisoner’s dilemma”?
Self-interest makes it difficult for the oligopolists to maintain the cooperative outcome. Relentless logic of self-interest drives the participants toward the non-cooperative outcome, which is worse for both parties.
How might an oligopolistic firm behave like a monopoly? What forces may prevent this?
Forming a cartel and acting like a monopolist, but self-interest drives them towards competition.
