SSC Exam » SSC Study Materials » Indian Economy » How Monopolistic Competition Works

How Monopolistic Competition Works

what is a monopolistic competition, its characteristics and related information.

This producer can set the price for its product and keep all the profits. It is a disadvantageous market structure as it limits the number of sellers and causes long waiting times for customers.

There are two primary forms of market determination in monopolising the market in monopoly competition: price leader and price taker. The producer sets the highest price in the price leader form and tries to maintain this by offering more outstanding quality to consumers than the other producers. The price taker form is when one producer dominates the monopoly economics and sets the lowest price. This producer can capture a larger share of the total market share because it can offer lower prices to consumers.

Characteristics of Monopolistic competition 

The characteristics of monopolistic competition include imperfect consumer knowledge,slightly different products , and barriers to entry. Benefits of a monopolistic competition

The benefits of a monopolistic competition are that the company can charge higher prices without fear of competition and charge whatever it wants for the good or service due to its monopoly status. The downside is that consumers may not be able to find a good or service that meets their needs at a reasonable price, and the company may not be able to respond to changing market conditions. Monopolies can also harm the economy, leading to overproduction, low innovation, and lower quality products.

Factors influencing the price of a good or service in a monopolistic market

Monopoly competition exists when only one seller of a good or service in a particular market. This seller can set the price of the good or service however they please and is free from competition to monopolise the market. It usually happens when there is a natural monopoly, in which case the government may impose rules on the company to protect the public.

Firms face a strategic decision in monopoly competition: How much should they charge for their goods or services? They will lose consumers to their competitors if they charge too little, eventually driving them out of business. If they charge high, they will not be able to sell their products and might even lose money. The equilibrium price will be where the firm earns the most significant total revenue in the long run.

 The factors that can influence the price of a good or service in a monopolistic market are:

– The quantity demanded of the good or service

– The price of the good or service

– The cost of production

– The availability of the product or item in the market

– The number of suppliers in the market

– The amount of rivalry among suppliers

– The ability of suppliers to price discriminate

– The degree of uncertainty about future demand for the good or service

– The amount of competition in the market

– The amount of output a company can produce

– The level of technology that is available to the company

Conclusion

Monopolistic  competition is a market structure where only a few sellers of a good or service. The price of goods and services is determined not by the power of the market but by the competition between sellers. A monopoly economy is characterised by high levels of competition, oligopoly, and barriers to entry. Monopoly is not a good thing for the market as it heavily affects the buyers since they are left with little to no choice or option. 

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the SSC Exam Preparation.

What is the difference between price determination and price setting?

Ans. Price determination is when the seller decides the price of a good or service, while price setting is when the ...Read full

How does the seller determine the price?

Ans. The seller can determine the price of a good or service by looking at various factors, including production costs, demand, competition, and th...Read full

How does the market determine the price of a good or service?

Ans. The market determines the price of a good or service by how much people are willing to pay.

How does market equilibrium determine the price of a good or service in a monopolistic market?

Ans. The market equilibrium in a monopolistic market is determined by the quantity that consumers are willing and able to purchase at each price. I...Read full

What determines the profit margins in a monopolistic market?

Ans. In a monopoly market, the profit margin of a monopoly is determined by the difference between the price at whic...Read full

What are the consequences of a monopoly capturing a significant market share?

Ans. A monopoly can have several consequences, the most significant of which is that the price of the good or servic...Read full