Section 7 Flashcards
Four Market Structures
- Pure competition (least common)
- Monopolistic competition (imperfect competition)
- Oligopoly (imperfect competition)
- Monopoly (least common and imperfect competition)
Differentiating Characteristics
- Number of firms
- Type of product
- Ease of entry
- Market power or price control
Monopoly Characteristics
- High market power (Price Maker)
- One firm
- Blocked entry
- Unique product
i. e. local utilities
Oligopoly Characteristics
- Interdependence (Price Maker)
- A few large firms
- High barriers to entry
- Homogeneous or differentiated products
i. e. steel, oil, automobiles
Monopolistic Competition
- Limited market power (Price Maker)
- Large number of firms
- Low barriers to entry/exit
- Differentiated products
i. e. restaurants, hotels
Pure (perfect) Competition
- No market power (Price Taker)
- Large number of firms
- No barriers to entry/exit
- Homogeneous product
Have perfect information
i.e. farmers
Pure Competition Demand (individual firms)
Demand is perfectly elastic at the market price
Pure Competition Demand (market)
downsloping curve
Marginal - Average - Total Revenue - Price
Price = MR = AR TR = Price * quantity
How to Maximize Profit
Maximize economic profit by adjusting output
How to Determine Level of Output
- Total Revenue - Total Cost
2. MR = MC (any point where MR > MC)
Break Even Point
When a firm makes a normal profit
Maximize Profit
MR = MC
Greatest different between TR and TC
- produce the last full unit for which MR exceeds MC
- Applies to all industries
- Also called P = MC in pure competition only
Calculating Economic Profit
Quantity times price minus average total cost
Q * (P - ATC)
Minimize Loss
Where MC = MR
- As long as price exceeds minimum AVC and less than ATC