ECONOMICS NOTES
Types of Market Structures
There are quite a few different market structures that can characterize an economy. However, if you are just getting started with this topic, you may want to look at the four basic types of market structures first: perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopoly. Each of them has its own set of characteristics and assumptions, which in turn affect the decision making of firms and the profits they can make.It is important to note that not all of these market structures exist in reality; some of them are just theoretical constructs. Nevertheless, they are critical because they help us understand how competing firms make decisions.
1. PERFECT COMPETITION
Perfect competition describes a market structure, where a large number of small firms compete against each other. In this scenario, a single firm does not have any significant market power. As a result, the industry as a whole produces the socially optimal level of output, because none of the firms can influence market prices.The idea of perfect competition builds on several assumptions: (1) all firms maximize profits (2) there is free entry and exit to the market, (3) all firms sell completely identical (i.e., homogenous) goods, (4) there are no consumer preferences. By looking at those assumptions, it becomes quite obvious that we will hardly ever find perfect competition in reality. That is an essential aspect because it is the only market structure that can (theoretically) result in a socially optimal level of output.Probably the best example of a market with an almost perfect competition we can find in reality is the stock market. If you are looking for more information on perfect competition, you can also check our post on perfect competition vs. imperfect competition.
2. MONOPOLISTIC COMPETITION
Monopolistic competition also refers to a market structure, where a large number of small firms compete against each other. However, unlike in perfect competition, the firms in monopolistic competition sell similar, but slightly differentiated products. That gives them a certain degree of market power, which allows them to charge higher prices within a certain range.Monopolistic competition builds on the following assumptions: (1) all firms maximize profits (2) there is free entry, and exit to the market, (3) firms sell differentiated products (4) consumers may prefer one product over the other. Now, those assumptions are a bit closer to reality than the ones we looked at in perfect competition. However, this market structure no longer results in a socially optimal level of output because the firms have more power and can influence market prices to a certain degree.An example of monopolistic competition is the market for cereals. There is a huge number of different brands (e.g., Cap’n Crunch, Lucky Charms, Froot Loops, Apple Jacks). Most of them probably taste slightly different, but at the end of the day, they are all breakfast cereals.
3. OLIGOPOLY
An oligopoly describes a market structure that is dominated by only a small number of firms. That results in a state of limited competition. The firms can either compete against each other or collaborate (see also Cournot vs. Bertrand Competition). By doing so, they can use their collective market power to drive up prices and earn more profit.The oligopolistic market structure builds on the following assumptions: (1) all firms maximize profits, (2) oligopolies can set prices, (3) there are barriers to entry and exit in the market, (4) products may be homogenous or differentiated, and (5) there is only a few firms that dominate the market. Unfortunately, it is not clearly defined what a “few firms“ means precisely. As a rule of thumb, we say that an oligopoly typically consists of about 3-5 dominant firms.To give an example of an oligopoly, let’s look at the market for gaming consoles. This market is dominated by three powerful companies: Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. That leaves all of them with a significant amount of market power.
4. MONOPOLY
A monopoly refers to a market structure where a single firm controls the entire market. In this scenario, the firm has the highest level of market power, as consumers do not have any alternatives. As a result, monopolies often reduce output to increase prices and earn more profit.The following assumptions are made when we talk about monopolies: (1) the monopolist maximizes profit, (2) it can set the price, (3) there are high barriers to entry and exit, (4) there is only one firm that dominates the entire market.From the perspective of society, most monopolies are usually not desirable, because they result in lower outputs and higher prices compared to competitive markets. Therefore, they are often regulated by the government. An example of a real-life monopoly could be Monsanto. This company trademarks about 80% of all corn harvested in the US, which gives it a high level of market power. You can find additional information about monopolies in our post on monopoly power.
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