Question

Which of the following characteristics differentiates a firm in an oligopolistic market from a firm in a perfectly competitive market?A) A firm in an oligopolistic market has to consider its own impact on price when making production decisions.B) A firm in an oligopolistic market does not face competition from other firms.C) A firm in an oligopolistic market does not maximize profits.D) Firms in oligopoly markets do not reach a profit maximum when marginal revenue equals marginal cost.

Answer 1

Answer:

A) A firm in an oligopolistic market has to consider its own impact on price when making production decisions

Explanation:

A perfectly competitive market is a market with many firms selling identical product. There are free entry and free exist and the decision of a firm does not affect the price in the market as all firms are price takers. Therefore, each firm is independent under perfectly competitive market and production decisions of a firm in a perfectly competitive market does not affect the price in the market nor will it cause any reaction from other firms.

However, Oligopolistic market is a market where there are few firms which are 3 or more firms but not more than 20 firms selling identical or differentiated product.. Firms in oligopolistic market are interdependent which implies that the decision of one firm can affect price and this can cause reaction from other firms and then lead to a price war. A price war occurs when each firm continually reduces its own price in order to increase its market share which causes other firms to react reducing their own prices and this will make none of the firms to gain in the end. In order to avoid the price war, each firm in an oligopolistic market has to consider its own impact on price when making production decisions.