What would be the impact of the US placing a tariff on the import of steel and aluminium into the US A tariff on imports of foreign steel would raise the price of imported steel and encourage US firms and consumers to buy domestically produced steel instead. At the moment, American producers find it cheaper …
Readers Question: what is meant by consumer surplus? Can firms reduce or eliminate consumer surplus? Consumer Surplus is the difference between the price that consumers pay and the price that they are willing to pay. On a supply and demand curve, it is the area between the equilibrium price and the demand curve For example, …
Definition of Competition Policy: Government policies to prevent and reduce the abuse of monopoly power. Abuse of monopoly power can lead to market failure and be against the public interest. Therefore Governments are concerned to intervene and protect the interests of the consumers. 1998 Competition Act sought to bring the UK into line with EU …
Concentration ratio refers to the market share of the largest firms in an industry. For example, a five-firm concentration ratio of 65% means that the five largest firms have more 65% of market sales. If the concentration ratio increased, then one or two firms may start to dominate the market and the firms will be …
Limit Pricing is a pricing strategy a monopolist may use to discourage entry. If a monopolist set its profit maximising price (where MR=MC) the level of supernormal profit would be so high it attracts new firms into the market. Limit pricing involves reducing the price sufficiently to deter entry. It leads to less profit than …
Perfect competition is a market structure Where there are many small firms There is freedom of entry and exit There is perfect information about price and supply Products are homogenous. Definition of Perfect Competition Outcome of perfect competition Firms are price takers Firms will make normal profit (where AR=AC). If firms made supernormal profits – more …
Summary: Productive efficiency is concerned with the optimal method of producing goods; producing goods at the lowest cost. Allocative efficiency is concerned with the optimal distribution of goods and services. Example: An economy could be productively efficient in producing large numbers of boots – but if they were all for the left foot, it would …
Monopsony occurs when there is one buyer and many sellers. In the labour market, a monopsony occurs with one employer and many workers wanting to gain employment. Arguably, monopsony power enables firms to ‘exploit’ workers by setting lower wages and employing fewer workers than in a competitive market. To visualise monopsony power, we could think …