II.D.3.a-e Exam Flashcards
what are the four market models?
- perfect competition
- monopoly
- monopolistic competition
- oligopoly
Characteristics of a perfect competition market structure (5)
- many small firms
- identical products
- easy for firms to enter and exit the industry
- seller has no need to advertise
- firms are “price takers”
the demand curve for a perfectly competitive market structure is….
perfectly elastic (a horizontal straight line)
for perfect competition what is MRDARP
this is the demand curve:
- MR= marginal revenue
- D= demand
- AR=Average revenue
- P= price
what is the profit maximizing rule of a perfect comp market structure?
MR=MC
why do firms still produce even if they are experiencing an economic loss in short run?
- their profit covers their their variable costs and only a portion of their fixed costs
- this is better than shutting down and taking a loss on ALL of their fixed costs
if the MRDARP curve is below ATC and AVC what does this mean?
there is a loss and the firm will shut down
if the MRDARP curve is below ATC but above AVC then what does this mean?
the firm is having a loss but will continue to function
if the MRDARP curve is above the ATC curve then what does this mean?
the firm has a profit
does the MR=MC rule apply to all markets?
yes and only if the price is above AVC
when the MRDARP curve = min of ATC what does this mean?
they are breaking even
MC above the AVC curve is….
the supply curve
when MC increase, supply…
when MC decreases, supply…
- decreases
2. increases
in the long run how do firms act? (4)
- firms will enter if there is a profit
- firms will leave if there is loss
- ALL firms break even, they make NO economic profit/ normal profit
- in long run equilibrium a perfectly competitive firm is EXTREMELY effiicient
if MRDARP is above the ATC curve and you want it to break even (or go to long run equilibrium) what do you do?
you increase the supply curve( which moves to the right) which then lowers the price that the firm takes
what do you do if the MRDARP curve is below the ATC curve and you want it to be in long run equilibrium?
you decrease the supply which shifts the curve to the left and makes the price that the firm takes higher.