CHAPTER 25
Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly
Topic Question numbers
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1. Monopolistic competition: definition; characteristics 1-17
2. Demand curve 18-24
3. Price-output behavior 25-78
4. Efficiency aspects 79-88
5. Oligopoly: definition; characteristics 89-112
6. Concentration ratio; Herfindahl Index 113-140
7. Game theory 141-156
8. Kinked-demand curve model 157-176
9. Collusion; cartels; price leadership 177-194
10. Advertising 195-200
11. Efficiency aspects 201-204
12. Review of four structures 205-226 Consider This 227-228 Last Word 229-233 True-False 234-258
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C) the industry would more closely approximate pure competition. D) the likelihood of collusive pricing would increase.
Answer: C
Type: A Topic: 1 E: 461 MI: 217 10. Economic analysis of a monopolistically competitive industry is more complicated than that of pure competition because: A) the number of firms in the industry is larger. B) monopolistically competitive firms cannot realize an economic profit in the long run. C) of product differentiation and consequent product promotion activities. D) monopolistically competitive producers use strategic pricing strategies to combat rivals.
Answer: C
Type: A Topic: 1 E: 461 MI: 217 11. A monopolistically competitive industry combines elements of both competition and monopoly. The monopoly element results from: A) the likelihood of collusion. C) product differentiation. B) high entry barriers. D) mutual interdependence in decision making.
Answer: C
Type: D Topic: 1 E: 462 MI: 218 12. Nonprice competition refers to: A) low barriers to entry. B) product development, advertising, and product packaging. C) the differences in information which consumers have regarding various products. D) an industry or firm in long-run equilibrium.
Answer: B
Type: A Topic: 1 E: 461 MI: 217 13. A significant difference between a monopolistically competitive firm
Competition is prevalent in various aspects of life, including sports, school, and jobs. Everyone at some point in their lifetime will have to compete against others in order to achieve a goal or earn a prize. It’s how the world has worked for a long time; it’s survival of the fittest and this minor competition between everyone is how we have continuously gotten smarter, faster, and stronger. Competition is necessary to a certain degree, but how much is too much? It’s definitely not a bad thing, and as long as there’s a healthy amount, it can be beneficial because it fosters self-improvement, and it will push people to go all out and try their absolute best.
Up until the 1880s, the United States economy followed the policy of laissez-faire (the idea that the government should have no involvement in the economy), and this led to competition which led to good prices of goods for the average consumer. However with the growth of many large companies that controlled the market, prices of goods raised due to the lack of competition. With consumers becoming frustrated and prices constantly rising, the government was forced to regulate the control of monopolies in the market.
In the late nineteenth century shortly after the Civil War and Reconstruction, farmers in the Midwestern United States found themselves in quite a predicament. During the second industrial revolution of the United States that contained mass introduction of: railroads, oil, steel, and electricity, the risk-taking entrepreneurs of this era took an adventure into the world of cutthroat capitalism. In just a little time, a handful of monopolies arose in all these industries which hurt both the consumer of the product and the producer of the material (Doc. F). Because of the corrupt politicians in Washington DC, the absence of regulation on the monopolies put into place by bribes and greed or moderation from them, and the devious ways of the
Prior to the American Era of Industrialization, the American Civil War had just taken place that gave the Northern Economy war profits that were eventually invested into industrialization. However, the Age of Industry, in the United States, was extremely harmful to the nation, due to the fact that the idea of Social Darwinism arose, there was corruption within the government, and monopolies began arising which had a negative effect on the the economy and the working class. Monopolies, in the industrial period, had a negative impact across the nation due to the fact that monopolies made life difficult for the arising middle class, economically speaking. Document 1 illustrates perfectly how monopolies made life difficult for the working class
During 1865 to 1900 the industrial and business leaders thrived and created monopolies. The first monopolies were Railroads that which was created after the Civil War. These monopolies had a great amount of wealth and power in the nation, even as powerful as the president. These people controlled monopolies of Railroads, oil, and iron. They became rich and powerful off of their companies and hoarded the majority of the money.
Back when the America was divided in thirteen states, the commerce was small and still had many points to improve. As the time passed, these small business started to make commerce between different states, and, consequently, required the government to create laws regulating the commerce, such as the Interstate Commerce Act. With the help of the government, the economy started growing, and so, many monopolies started to appear and so to control business. Years later, these monopolies were much bigger and consequently, the prosperity of country was threatened since there were any competition, nor any incentive to provide best products opportunities. Therefore, the U.S. government was now required to create new laws regulating and intervening in the economy, even though going against the capitalist ideal.
A. perfect competition and monopolistic competition B. duopoly and imperfect competition C. duopoly and triopoly D. monopolistic competition and oligopoly
Many companies and people have committed monopolies before they were illegal and even after it. A monopoly is when one person has complete control over a company and makes close to 100% of the profits but because of the The Sherman Antitrust Act passed on April 8, 1890, “combination in the form of trust and otherwise, conspiracy in restraint of trade.” In simple terms the act prohibited any forms of monopoly in business and marketing fields. Monopolies committed before the Act, making it legal in every way but unethical, by some of the famously known marketers like John D. Rockefeller making him filthy rich. While others committed after The Sherman Antitrust Act caused a company like Microsoft to be sued and have a bruised ego.
Explain the most important characteristic in perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopolies and relate the characteristic to how these firms can make profits in the short run. In your analysis, make sure to relate an example for each of the market structures listed and how it relates to the particular characteristics.
1. Analyze the fast food industry from the point of view of perfect competition. Include the concepts of elasticity, utility, costs, and market structure to explain the prices charged by fast food retailers.
Deborah Stone, author of The Market and the Polis, evaluates the premise that public policy making in the government is comparable to a modern day marketplace. The reason being is the market and the polis both see fit to cater to public interest. In the public policy makers case, the goal is to please the constituents so they can be reelected for another term and show that they have accomplished something. For the market place, the goal is to find a competitive balance with ones prices in a balance with other competitors in the market to get as many customers as possible to achieve the most profit. Self Interest is an underlying factor in how successful one is in the market as each the business and consumer is out for the most potential gains.
In the UK, the three leading competitive coffee brands are Costa Coffee (with 1,992 outlets), Starbucks Coffee Company (with 849 outlets) and Caffè Nero (with 620 outlets). They enjoy a 3-firm concentration of 53%; (Market concentration measures the market share of the largest companies in an industry)
What is a monopoly? According to Webster's dictionary, a monopoly is "the exclusive control of a commodity or service in a given market.” Such power in the hands of a few is harmful to the public and individuals because it minimizes, if not eliminates normal competition in a given market and creates undesirable price controls. This, in turn, undermines individual enterprise and causes markets to crumble. In this paper, we will present several aspects of monopolies, including unfair competition, price control, and horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate mergers.
Has the economy ever thought about direct impact from monopoly and oligopoly industries? The structure of a monopoly based industry exemplifies one seller in the entire market. On the other hand, the concept of an oligopoly industry illustrates few sellers that have the potential of making a direct impact in one single industry idea. The economy has depended on the market share of a monopoly and an oligopoly trade. However, a monopoly industry differs from an oligopoly industry due to a monopoly competitor dominates a majority of the market share of many industries and an oligopoly competitor contains few sellers who dominate a market share based on one single industry idea.
To identify an appropriate strategy for a given industry one must look into the external and internal factors influencing the company. This Schnell Air report has been conceived with a triple objective in mind: to provide the Schnell Air Board with (i) a brief and compelling synthesis of Schnell Air’s competitive market environment overview since it entered the Innsbruck – Turin route in January 1997 as compared to prior to its entry, (ii) analyse the available data to establish the extent of predatory pricing strategies being plotted by the two existing duopolies – Air Turin and Innsbruck Air and (iii) by using a Game Theoretic approach model and highlight the affect of a 4th daily service on the same route given the