what does it mean to have a market equilibrium under monopoly course hero

by Prof. Rowan Schultz 7 min read

Equilibrium in Monopoly The conditions for Equilibrium in Monopoly are the same as those under perfect competition. The marginal cost (MC) is equal to the marginal revenue (MR) and the MC curve cuts the MR curve from below.

Full Answer

What is the equilibrium in monopoly?

Like in perfect competition, there are three possibilities for a firm’s Equilibrium in Monopoly. These are: A firm earns normal profits when the average cost of production is equal to the average revenue for the corresponding output.

What is market equilibrium in economics?

Market equilibrium (market clearing) occurs when the quantity demanded equals the quantity supplied at the intersection of the supply and demand curves. Supply and demand drive the market.

What happens in the short run when a firm is monopolist?

In the short-run, a monopolist sometimes sets a lower price and incurs losses to keep new firms away. In the short-run, a monopolist firm cannot vary all its factors of production as its cost curves are similar to a firm operating in perfect competition.

What is the equilibrium position of the monopolist at point D2?

If D 2 is the demand curve, then the equilibrium position of the monopolist is at the intersection of the MC curve and the MR 2 curve at point A 2. This corresponds with the point of tangency between D 2 and the ATC curve (point E 2 ).

What is monopoly market equilibrium?

The Equilibrium level in monopoly is that level of output in which marginal revenue equals marginal cost. The producer will continue producer as long as marginal revenue exceeds the marginal cost. At the point where MR is equal to MC the profit will be maximum and beyond this point the producer will stop producing.

How does monopoly affect equilibrium?

Some modern economists argue that a monopoly is by definition an inefficient way to distribute goods and services. This theory suggests that it obstructs the equilibrium between producer and consumer, leading to shortages and high prices. Other economists argue that only government monopolies cause market failure.

Where does equilibrium occur in a monopoly?

Monopolist's profit maximizing equilibrium occurs at output at which MC = MR. Take simple case in which MC = ATC = constant, no fixed costs. MC is a flat line.

What do you mean by monopoly explain how price is determined under monopoly?

We know in a market, the price is determined by supply and demand of the product. Even under monopoly, a good price is determined by supply and demand, but in a different way. Under the perfect competition, there will be a number of sellers, but under monopoly, monopolist is the sole seller of an object.

How do you find equilibrium price and quantity in monopoly?

If the industry is a monopoly, then the equilibrium price and quantity is found by equating the marginal revenue curve for the monopolist with the marginal cost curve for the monopolist. The MR curve is MR = 1000 – 2Q while the MC curve is the supply curve. Thus, 1000 – 2Q = Q or Q = 333.3.

Why do monopolies cause market failure?

A monopoly can be classified as a market failure because the market is meant to be maximising welfare for society. The monopoly prices higher than a competitive market and restricts output, which is not maximising welfare for consumers.

What is meant by market equilibrium?

Equilibrium is the state in which market supply and demand balance each other, and as a result prices become stable. Generally, an over-supply of goods or services causes prices to go down, which results in higher demand—while an under-supply or shortage causes prices to go up resulting in less demand.

What is perfect competition explain the conditions of equilibrium under monopoly?

Equilibrium in perfect competition is the point where market demands will be equal to market supply. A firm's price will be determined at this point. In the short run, equilibrium will be affected by demand. In the long run, both demand and supply of a product will affect the equilibrium in perfect competition.

What is market equilibrium explain with example?

Market equilibrium is achieved when the demand for something is equal to the available supply. Explore the nuances of supply, demand, and equilibrium in economics applied to real-world examples including flat-screen TVs and gas prices.

How the equilibrium price and output are determined under monopoly in the short run?

The equilibrium price and output is determined at a point where the short-run marginal cost (SMC) equals marginal revenue (MR). Since costs differ in the short-run, a firm with lower unit costs will be earning only normal profits. In case, it is able to cover just the average variable cost, it incurs losses.

How does a monopolist determine equilibrium price during short run?

Below the average variable cost, monopolist will stop production. Thus, a monopolist in the short run equilibrium has to bear the minimum loss equal to fixed costs. Therefore, equilibrium price will be equal to average variable cost. This situation can also be explained with the help of Fig.

What is demand curve AR 1?

The demand curve AR 1 is tangent to AC or LAC at point E. Remember, if the demand curve lies to the left of the AC curve, then the monopolist is unable to recover his costs and closes down.

Can a monopolist change its factors of production?

In the short-run, a monopolist firm cannot vary all its factors of production as its cost curves are similar to a firm operating in perfect competition. Also, in the short-run, a monopolist might incur losses but will shut down only if the losses exceed its fixed costs. Further, if the demand for his product is high, ...

2-2.1. Monopoly Equilibrium - Part 1

In markets, prices act as rationing devices, encouraging or discouraging production and consumption to find an equilibrium. In this course, you will learn to construct demand curves to capture consumer behavior and supply curves to capture producer behavior. The resulting equilibrium price “rations” the scarce commodity.

Skills You'll Learn

Analysts can predict equilibrium outcomes with some degree of certainty. We want to construct a measure of efficiency that will allow us to evaluate the attractiveness of these equilibrium market outcomes.