ECO101H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Nash Equilibrium, Concentration Ratio, Monopolistic Competition

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Many industries fall somewhere between the polar cases of perfect competition and monopoly. Oligopoly: a market structure in which only a few sellers offer similar or identical products. Monopolistic competition: a market structure in which many firms sell products that are similar but not identical. Concentration ratio: the percentage of the market"s total output supplied by its four largest firms. o the higher the concentration ratio, the less competition: we now focus on oligopoly, a market structure with high concentration ratios. Strategic behaviour in oligopoly: a firm"s decisions about p or q can affect other firms and cause them to react. The firm will consider these reactions when making decisions. Game theory: the study of how people behave in strategic situations. One possible duopoly outcome: collusion: collusion: an agreement among firms in a market about quantities to produce or prices to charge.

Related Questions

1) A natural monopoly exists when:

a. A few firms collude to make one large firm

b. Firms enter the industry as a result of profit incentives

c. Economies of scale provide large cost advantages to having one firm produce the industry's output

d. Firms naturally maximize regardless of market structure

2) A(n) ____ is a single firm with ___, whereas a(n) ___ implies an industry with ____ firm(s) and ____ .

a. Monopoly; barriers to entry; oligopoly; few; no barriers to entry

b. Oligopoly; no barriers to entry; monopoly; many; easy entry and exit

c. Monopoly; barriers to entry; monopolistic competition; many; easy entry and exit

d. Monopolistic competitor; barriers to entry; monopoly; one; barriers to entry

3) In monopolistic competition:

a. Each firm produces a product identical to that of every other firm in the industry

b. Firms are aware of their strategic interdependence

c. Firms earn large economic profits in the long run

d. Firms earn zero economic profits in the long run

4) A monopolistically competitive industry, such as corn snack chips, and a perfectly competitive industry, like wheat farming, are alike in that:

a. There are many firms in each industry

b. Firms in both types of industries produce similar but not identical products

c. Barriers to entry in both industries are large

d. Firms in both types of industries produce identical products

byzantiumfish483

1. if the government attempts to break up a natural monopoly to enforce competition in an industry

A. the average cost of producing the good will increase

B. the smallest firm will have a significant cost advantage over the larger, less efficient firms

C. the average cost of producing the good will decrease

D. the price paid by consumers will be expected to remain the same.

2. which statement is true?

A. the monopolistic competitor always makes a profit in the short run

B. the monopolistic competitor operates at peak efficiency

C. product differentiation takes place in the minds of the buyers

D. none of these statements is true

3. Price discrimination

A. occurs when a good or service is resold

B. is prohibited by law

C. occurs when a seller charges two or more prices for the same good or service

D. occurs when the seller charges different prices for different quality products

4. Monopolistic competition may lead to each of the following except

A. inefficiency

B. overdifferentiation

C. overcapacity

D. monopoly profits

5. In the long run in monopolistic competition

A. most firms are making a profit

B. the absence of entry barriers ensures that there are no profits

C. economies of scale ensure that there are no profits

D. most firms are losing money

6. Price discrimination means

A. charging different prices for identical goods that have identical production costs

B. paying wages according to race or sex rather than productivity

C. exploiting the working masses by charging the highest single price possible.

D. eliminating all costs so that only pure profits are realized

7. The definition of monopolistic competition includes

A. few firms and ease of entry and exit

B. few firms and barrieres to entry and exit

C. many firms and barriers to entry and exit

D. many firms and ease of entry and exit

8. Which statement is true?

A. there are many firms in a monopolistically competitive industry.

B. monopolistic competitors produce an identical product

C. in order for product differentiation to take place, there must be clear physical differences amont the products sold

D. none is true

9. Long-run equilibrium for firms in monopolistically competitive industries is similar to that for firms in perfect competition in that

A. price equals minimum possible average total cost

B. price equals marginal cost

C. marginal revenue equals average total cost

D. price equals average total cost

10. Which statement is false?

A. Oligopolies are illegal in most states

B. most oligopolies engage in outright collusion

C. Ford motor company is an oligopoly

D. none of these statements is false

See the question and two answers, give brief your own opinion for each answer( are you agree on disagree with the answer, why?)

Q:This week, we are discussing market types. In this forum, please pick one of the market types that are presented in your textbook and provide your own definition (use your own words) and example. What do you think are the benefits vs. deficiencies of your chosen market type?

Answer 1)

Perfect Competition

This kind of market type stipulates the overall advantage that a market has. In this market, there are many sellers and buyers.These players do not control the price of commodities or services but the prices are controlled by the demand and supply of goods and services. As a result of this, no one can determine the market price of commodities because customers will switch to the next best alternative. All the market players in this sense are price takers and the customers that subscribe to these goods have a lot of experience about the goods offered. It means therefore that they have adequate information about the goods available, which means, therefore, they are aware of the prices that are being charged. All the firms that exist in this kind of market type have a relatively small market share because of the existence of so many of them. The market is also characterized by free entry and exit of firms. New firms can enter the market if they so wish and create competition to the existing firms. Due to this nature of many firms, most of them only earn enough to keep them on the market and nothing more for these firms (Makowski & Ostroy, 2001).

Answer 2)

The Oligopoly; best recognized by few sellers, identical (or similar) products, and its difficult entryinto the market. A good way to determine if a market has an oligopoly is if the change in one seller, causes its "competition" to change likewise. Automotive, cell phone industries, and aviation are some examples of markets that have an oligopoly. In the automotive industry, if one vehicle producer (lets say Chevrolet) changes the body style of its line up, other "completion" is soon to follow. Notice how cars these days are getting nicer and nicer for the base model? Research and Development is greatly valued in an industry that has an oligopoly. This is because if a seller lowers prices, they understand that its competitors will soon follow with ease. But, if they develop a better improvement over its last model in technology, it is much harder to follow than just a reduction in price.

The advantage of an oiligolpoly is that the leaders can set prices instead of take them. Which leads to those that are in charge having the ability to increase profit margins above what they would be in a truly free market.

The disadvantage is that for those looking to try to get into the market will have much difficulty because of the common huge capitol expenditures required to actually compete with the big boys.

ECO101H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Nash Equilibrium, Concentration Ratio, Monopolistic Competition

ECO101H1 Full Course Notes

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