B A Economics Third Semester

ECD1341 Micro Economics-II

Module-I

Market Structures

Dr.Vineetha.T
Lecturer
School of Distance Education
University of Kerala
 What is a Market?
• Place where there are many buyers and sellers.

• Actively engaged in buying and selling acts.

• Thus, it does not mean a particular place but the entire area
where buyers and sellers of a commodity are in close contact

and they have one price for the same commodity.

Market Structures Based on Competition
Market Structures

Perfect Competition Imperfect Competition

Monopolistic Oligopoly
Monopoly
Competition
 UNIT-I

PERFECT COMPETITION
 Perfect Competition

• It is a market structure where there are large number of sellers

and buyers.

• Homogeneous Product

• The price of the product is determined by the industry.

• One price prevails in the market and all the firms sell the
product at the prevailing price.

• It is also known as “Pure Competition”

Features of Perfect Competition
 Demand Curve Facing a Perfectly
Competitive Firm
• The firms demand curve is different from the
industry demand curve.
• A Perfectly competitive firm‟s demand schedule is
perfectly elastic even though the demand curve
for the market is downward sloping.
• The result is that the individual firm perceives the
demand curve for its product as being perfectly
horizontal.
Market Demand Versus Individual Firm
Demand Curve
 Profit –Maximizing Level of Output

• The goal of the firm is to maximize profits

• Profit is the difference between Total revenue and Total cost.

• What happens to profit in response to a change in output is

determined by Marginal Revenue (MR) and Marginal Cost (MC)

• A firm maximizes profit when MC=MR

• A perfect competitor accepts the market price as given,

• As a result, MR= P
Short-Run Equilibrium of the firm under
Perfect Competition: Marginal Approach

• Firm is in equilibrium - when Maximize Profit

• To maximize profits, a firm should produce where

 MC=MR & TR=TC

 If MR does not equal to MC, a firm can increase profit by

changing output. The supplier will continue to produce as long
as MC is less than MR. He will cut back on production if MC is
greater than MR
 The firm is in equilibrium at the level of
output at which :
 Marginal cost equals Marginal Revenue.

 Marginal cost curve cuts marginal revenue from

below.
Short Run Equilibrium of a firm with
losses
• At the prevailing market price of the
product, the average and marginal
revenue curve lies below the average cost
curve.
Short Run Equilibrium :Total Approach

• Firms seek to maximize total profit ,not profit

per unit.

• Profit is maximized where the vertical distance

between total revenue and total cost is
greatest.
 Shut Down Point

• The firm will shut down if it cannot cover average variable costs

• A firm should continue to produce as long as price is greater

than average variable cost

• If price falls below that point it makes sense to shut down

temporarily and save the variable costs.

• The shutdown point is the point at which the firm will be better
off it shuts down than it will if it stays in business.
Shut Down Point for a competitive Firms
 Short Run Supply Curve
•The supply curve shows the maximum quantities per unit of time
which sellers will place in the market at various prices. At a higher
price, a greater quantity will be supplied and, at a lower price, a
smaller quantity will be supplied.
 Long Run Equilibrium of the Firm and
Industry

• All factors are variable in the long run

• Hence all costs are variable
• Firm can change the plant and adjust the capacity
according to the requirements of production
• If profit are supernormal, more firms enter the market
and vice versa.
• Entry and exit of firms is possible
Long Run Equilibrium of Firm and Industry
 Long Run Supply Curve for a Constant-
Cost Industry

• In a constant cost industry , firms continue to

buy inputs at the same prices.

• The long run supply curve is horizontal at the

constant average cost of production

• After the industry expands, the industry settles

at the same long-run equilibrium price as before
Long Run supply in a Constant-Cost Industry
 Increasing Cost Industry

• An increasing cost industry is an industry in which

the average cost of production increases as the
total output of the industry increases.
• The average cost increases as the industry grows
for two reasons:
Increasing input prices
Less productive inputs
 Long Run Supply in an Increasing Cost
Industry

• An increasing cost industry is an industry in which

the average cost of production increases as the
total output of the industry increases.
• The average cost increases as the industry grows
for two reasons:
Increasing input prices
Less productive inputs
 Decreasing Cost Industry

In a decreasing - cost industry, the long run supply curve is a

downward slopping curve.
 UNIT-2

MONOPOLY
 MONOPOLY

Derived from two Greek words:

„Monos‟ meaning Single

„Poles‟ meaning Seller

Monopoly means existence of a single producer or seller who

produces or sells a product which has no close substitutes.

Example :
Features of Monopoly
Demand and Marginal Revenue Curves
of a Monopolist
• One firm constitutes the whole industry.

• The entire demand of the consumers for a product

faces the monopolist.

• The monopolist faces a downward sloping demand

curve.
Demand and Marginal Revenue
Curves Under Monopoly
 Short Run Equilibrium Price and
output
• Under Monopoly Price and equilibrium are determined
by 2 different approaches:
Total Approach
 TR &TC Analysis
Marginal Approach
 MR& MC Analysis
 TR & TC Curve Analysis

• Monopolist can earn maximum profit by selling that amount of

output at which difference between TR & TC is maximum.

• Monopolist tries to find out the level of output at which the

difference between TR & TC is maximum.

• The amount at which a monopolist earns maximum profit will

constitute his equilibrium situation.

Short run Equilibrium of the Monopolist:
Total Approach
 MC & MR Analysis

• In case of monopoly ,one can know about price

determination or equilibrium position with the help of
MR &MC analysis.
• Two Conditions Must Fulfill
• MC=MR
• MC curve cuts MR curve from below.
• Price & equilibrium determination under monopoly are
studied with reference to 2 time periods:
• Short Period and Long Period
 Short Run Equilibrium of the
Monopolist: Marginal Approach
Long Run Equilibrium Price and Output

• All factors are variable

• LMC cuts MR from below

 Price Discrimination

• It refers to the extent to which a seller can divide the market

and can take advantage of market division in extracting the
consumer‟s surplus.

• Two important effects of Price discrimination:

It can increase the monopolist‟s profits

It can reduce deadweight loss

 Types of Price Discrimination
• First-Degree (Perfect)Price Discrimination:
Occurs when the seller charges the highest price
each consumer would be willing to pay for the
product rather than go without it.
• Second-Degree Price Discrimination: Occurs
when the monopolist captures part of the
consumer‟s surplus and not the entire amount .It is
possible when there are many consumers in the
market with different tastes and income
• Third –Degree Price Discrimination: Occurs
when the seller charges different prices in different
market segments of the buying population.
Graphical Representation of Price
Discriminations
 Bilateral Monopoly

• Bilateral monopoly refers to a market situation in which a

Single Seller (Monopolist) of a product faces a Single
Buyer (Monopsonist) of that product.

• Ex: A single firm produces all copper in a country and the

metal is used by only one firm

• Few Railway equipment (Fan, Battery) produced by a Single

Firm and purchased by Indian Railways
 UNIT -3

MONOPOLISTIC COMPETITION
 Monopolistic competition

• Monopolistic competition refers to a market structure in which

there are many sellers of a differentiated product and entry into
or exit from the industry is rather easy in the long run.

• It is the mid way between perfect competition and monopoly.

• For ex: Tooth paste, soap, Soft drinks, Books etc…

 Features of Monopolistic Competition

• Large number of seller and buyers in the market

• Product Differentiation(Tooth paste)

• Higher selling cost(Promotion cost)

• Imperfect Knowledge(Buyers)

• Freedom of entry and exist

• Higher elasticity of demand.(Price sensitivity market)

Short Run Equilibrium of the firm under
Monopolistic Competition

• Firms under monopolistic competition also face downward

sloping demand curve and therefore have monopoly power to
some extent.
• The profit maximizing output in the short run is at the point
where MR=SMC.
• It is possible that a firm operating in monopolistic competition
could earn: abnormal profit, normal profit or make a loss in the
short run.
Short Run Equilibrium under
monopolistic competition
 Equilibrium in the Long Run

• The absence of barriers to entry allow firms to enter the

industry.

• Demand curve will shift to the left.

• It will continue to shift until AR=AC

• At this point normal profits are earned and there is no

incentive for further firms to enter the industry.

• Excess Capacity
Long Run Equilibrium with Monopolistic
Competition
 Chamberlin’s Group Equilibrium

• Group equilibrium refers to the equilibrium of the product

group under a monopolistic competitive market . A
product group includes firms producing very closely
related commodities.
• The condition for attainment of group equilibrium is that
MC=MR and AR curve is tangent to the AC curve.
• The behaviour of the group will be reflected in the
bebaviour of the firm and each firm has identical
demand and cost curves.
Chamberlin's Group Equilibrium
Selling cost in Monopolistic Competition

• Chamberlin introduced the concept of selling costs.

According to him selling cost curve is U-Shaped . A firm will
continue adding to its selling costs as long as addition
to costs (MC) is less than addition to revenue (MR)
• The costs of changing consumers wants are selling costs.
• It includes all expenses incurred in order to increase the demand for the
goods and services.
• The purpose of selling cost is to shift the demand curve to the right ,to
increase the demand for the product.
• .
 Comparison between Perfect Competition &
Monopolistic Competition
Basis for Difference Perfect Competition Monopolistic Competition

Price Determination Demand and supply Dominant Firm

Product Standardization There is Product No Product Standardization

Standardization

Selling Costs Sharing of Selling costs No Sharing of selling costs

Average Revenue and AR=MR AR> MR

Marginal Revenue

Slope of Demand Curve Horizontal Downward curve

Barriers to Entry and Exit Comparatively Easy Difficult

 UNIT-IV
OLIGOPOLY
 Definition of Oligopoly
• Oligopoly is a market structure in which there are few sellers of
a product selling identical or differentiated products. Here
market is dominated by a small number of sellers. Because
there are few sellers, each oligopolist is likely to be aware of the
actions of the others.
 Features of Oligopoly

• Few Sellers
• Interdependence
• Importance of Advertising and Selling Costs
• Group Behaviour
• Indeterminate Demand Curve
• Aggressive and Defensive Marketing Methods
• Competition and Combination
• Identical or Differentiated Products
• Small Number of Large Firms
Classification of Oligopoly Models

Oligopoly models
Chamberlin’s
Oligopoly
Model

Non-collusive
Collusive Oligopoly
Oligopoly Sweezy’s
Kinked
Demand
Model
Price Bertrand’s
Cournot’s
Cartels Leadership Duopoly
Duopoly
Model Model
Collusive and Non-Collusive Oligopoly
• If the firms cooperate with each other in determining price
or output or both it is called collusive or cooperative
oligopoly.

• E.g.: OPEC

• If firms in an oligopoly market compete with each other, it is

called a non-collusive or non-cooperative oligopoly.

• Duopoly is the limiting case of oligopoly. It assume that

there are only two firms.
 Cournot Model

• Developed by –Augustin Cournot in 1838.

• Assumptions

 There are two firms and no other firms can enter in the
market.

 The firms have identical costs.

 They sell identical products.

 The firm set their quantities simultaneously

 Cournot model is quite unrealistic.

 Bertrand’s Duopoly Model
• Developed by Joseph Bertram in 1883 was a modification

upon Cournot‟s duopoly solution.

Chamberlin’s Oligopoly Model

Developed by Edward Hasting Chamberlin in 1933
• This model rejected the assumption of
independent action by competitors and accepted
the fact that firms do recognize their
interdependence.
 Kinked Demand Curve
• Model was developed by Prof.Paul M.Sweezy in 1939
• It explains the price rigidity commonly observed in oligopolistic
markets.
• If an oligopolist raised its price, it would lose most of its
customers because other firms in the industry will not increase
their price. They cannot increase its market share by lowering
its price since its competitors would also reduce their price
immediately.
• Oligopolists face a demand curve that is highly elastic for price
increases and less elastic for price reductions.
 Kinked Demand Curve
• The demand curve of the oligopolist has kink at the
established price and the most important
implication of the kinked model is that the
oligopolist tend to keep the price constant even in
the face of changed cost and demand conditions.
 Kinked Demand Model

• The kink is the consequence of the uncertainty of the

oligopolist and of their expectation that competitors will match
price cuts but not price increases. It is considered as a tool for
explaining why the price, once determined ,will tend to remain
fixed.
 Cartel
• A cartel is Formal “Agreement” among the competing
oligopolists.
• It is a formal organization of producers and
manufacturers that agree to fix prices, marketing and
production. Two forms of cartel: Cartels aiming
• At Joint Profit Maximization (full cartel outcome)
• At sharing of the market (loose cartel)
• Profit is maximized by setting MR=MC1=MC2
 Joint Profit Maximization
• The aim is the maximization of the joint industry profit

• It is also known as centralized cartel

• Here the market Mc curve is derived from the horizontal

summation of all individual MC curves
 Failure of Cartels

 Mistakes in the estimation of market demand

 Mistakes in the estimation of MC
 Slow process of cartel negotiation
 Stickiness of negotiated price
 The existence of high cost firms
 Fear of government Interference
 Fear of Entry
 Lack of freedom regarding design and selling activities
 Market Sharing Cartels
• The member firms agree on how to share the market, by keeping a
considerable degree of freedom related to the style of their output,
their selling activities and other decisions.
• Two basic methods for sharing the market Cartel are:
• Non price Competition
• Firm agree on a common price
• Firm can sell any quantity at this price
• Determination of quotas
• The quantity that each member may sell at the agreed price
• If all firms have identical costs the monopoly solution will emerge.
 Price Leadership

• A price leadership is informal position of a firm in an

oligopolistic setting to lead other firm in fixing price of
their product ahead of its competitors who closely
follow the prices already announced. The price leader
sets the price on marginalistic rules. It includes:
• Price leadership by a low cost-firm
• Price Leadership by the dominant firm
• The barometric price leadership
 Price Leadership by Low Cost Firm

• Only two firms

• Each of the two firms has equal share in the market

• Suppose two firms are A and B. Firm A has a lower cost

of production than B.

• The product produced by the two firms is homogeneous, so

that the consumers have no preference between them.
Low cost price leader with equal market share
Dominant Firm Price Leadership
 Dominant Firm (Cont….)

• Dominant firm have to ensure that the small firms will produce only
the remainder of demand (not more) otherwise the dominant firm
will be pushed to a non-maximizing position.

• If price leadership is to remain, there must be some definite market

sharing agreement.
 Barometric Price Leadership

• Price leader have good knowledge of the

prevailing conditions in the market and
forecast the future developments
• Price leader acts as a barometer.
• Leader firm must have a reputation of good
forecaster of economic changes.
• Followers always like to avoid risks when
economic conditions change
• Rivalry nature not accept.
 Long Run Adjustment in oligopoly

• Oligopolistic firms can build best plant to produce their best

level of output. But due to uncertainty it is more difficult.

• Entry has to be blocked or restricted if industry is to remain

oligopolistic.

• Change price for fear of starting a price war.

• They prefer to compete on the basis of advertising and product

differentiation .