Definition of Market Failure – This occurs when there is an inefficient allocation of resources in a free market. Market failure can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as monopoly (higher prices and less output), negative externalities (over-consumed and costs to third party) and public goods (usually not provided in a free market) …
Definition of Monopsony A monopsony occurs when a firm has market power in employing factors of production (e.g. labour). A monopsony means there is one buyer and many sellers. It often refers to a monopsony employer – who has market power in hiring workers. This is a similar concept to monopoly where there is one …
Definition of Consumer Surplus This is the difference between what the consumer pays and what he would have been willing to pay. For example: If you would be willing to pay £50 for a ticket to see the F. A. Cup final, but you can buy a ticket for £40. In this case, your consumer …
Readers Question: What is the role and function of price in the economy? The price of goods plays a crucial role in determining an efficient distribution of resources in a market system. Price acts as a signal for shortages and surpluses which help firms and consumers respond to changing market conditions. If a good is …
A contestable market occurs when there is freedom of entry and exit into the market. In a contestable market, there will be low sunk costs. (Costs which can’t be recovered when leaving the market) Due to freedom of entry and exit – existing firms always face the threat of new firms entering the market. This …
Supernormal profit is all the excess profit a firm makes above the minimum return necessary to keep a firm in business. Supernormal profit is calculated by Total Revenue – Total Costs (where total cost includes all fixed and variable costs, plus minimum income necessary for the owner to be happy in that business.) Normal profit …
Normal profit is a situation where a firm makes sufficient revenue to cover its total costs and remain competitive in an industry. In measuring normal profit, we include the opportunity cost of working elsewhere. When a firm makes normal profit we say the economic profit is zero. Normal profit = total revenue – total costs …
An assumption in classical economics is that firms seek to maximise profits. Profit = Total Revenue (TR) – Total Costs (TC). Therefore, profit maximisation occurs at the biggest gap between total revenue and total costs. A firm can maximise profits if it produces at an output where marginal revenue (MR) = marginal cost (MC) Diagram …