Competitive Markets (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Economics)

Revision Note

An Introduction To Competitive and Monopoly Markets

  • Each firm operates in a specific market

  • The conditions in different markets can vary significantly and are determined by the market structure in which the firm operates

  • There are a range of market structures, however your syllabus only requires you to know the characteristics of two - competitive markets and monopolies

  • Competitive markets are those with an extremely high degree of competition

  • A monopoly is a market structure in which one firm dominates the market and has significant market power

Diagram showing characteristics of market structures: numbers of sellers, type of information, type of product, firm's price setting behavior, barriers to entry, and numbers of buyers.
The six characteristics which determine the type of market structure a firm operates in - competitive or monopoly
  • The answers to the questions above determine the type of market structure in which a firm is operating in

    • If a firm is selling a unique product (e.g. handmade car) it is likely operating in a monopoly market and setting high prices

Characteristics of Competitive Markets

  • The characteristics of a competitive market are as follows

  1. There are many buyers and sellers: due to the number of market participants sellers are price takers

  2. There are no barriers to entry and exit from the industry: firms can start-up or leave the industry with relative ease which increases the level of competition

  3. Buyers and sellers possess perfect knowledge of prices: this assumption presupposes perfect information e.g. if one seller lowers their price then all buyers will know about it

  4. The products are homogenous: this means firms are unable to build brand loyalty as perfect substitutes exist and any price changes will result in losing customers

Advantages and Disadvantages of Competitive Markets

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Lower prices: competition causes firms to lower prices for consumers in an attempt to gain market share

  • Better quality: firms innovate and continuously seek to improve their quality of their goods/services in order to become recognised in a crowded market

  • More choice: more sellers equals more choice for consumers 

  • Worse quality: in a bid to lower prices, product quality may actually deteriorate over time

  • Too much choice: consumers may be overwhelmed and not explore the full range of market offerings, instead sticking to what they know

  • Worker welfare: the greater the competition the greater the need to cut costs, often resulting in low wages and poor working environments

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