Monopolistic Competition
Monopolistic competition is a type of market structure in which there are many firms producing similar but not identical products. This type of market structure is characterized by a large number of firms, differentiated products, and relatively easy entry and exit. Monopolistic competition is a form of imperfect competition, which means that firms have some degree of control over the prices they charge. This type of market structure is often found in industries such as retail, restaurants, and other service industries.
History of Monopolistic Competition
The concept of monopolistic competition was first developed by economist Edward Chamberlin in 1933. Chamberlin argued that firms in a monopolistically competitive market have some degree of control over the prices they charge, but not enough to be considered a monopoly. He also argued that firms in this type of market structure would have an incentive to differentiate their products in order to gain a competitive advantage.
Comparison of Monopolistic Competition and Other Market Structures
Market Structure | Number of Firms | Product Differentiation | Entry/Exit |
---|---|---|---|
Monopolistic Competition | Many | Differentiated | Easy |
Monopoly | One | Unique | Difficult |
Perfect Competition | Many | Identical | Easy |
Oligopoly | Few | Differentiated | Difficult |
Summary
Monopolistic competition is a type of market structure in which there are many firms producing similar but not identical products. This type of market structure is characterized by a large number of firms, differentiated products, and relatively easy entry and exit. Monopolistic competition is a form of imperfect competition, which means that firms have some degree of control over the prices they charge. For more information about monopolistic competition, you can visit websites such as Investopedia, The Balance, and Khan Academy.
See Also
- Monopoly
- Perfect Competition
- Oligopoly
- Price Discrimination
- Product Differentiation
- Price Elasticity
- Game Theory
- Market Power
- Barriers to Entry
- Market Structure