Test: Theory Of The Firm Under Perfect Competition - 2

Producer's Equilibrium: Equilibrium refers to a state of rest when no change is required. A firm (producer) is said to be in equilibrium when it has no inclination to expand or to contract its output. This state either reflects maximum profits or minimum losses. Producer’s equilibrium is often explained in terms of marginal revenue (MR) and marginal cost (MC) of production. Profit is maximized (or a producer strikes his equilibrium) when two conditions are satisfied – (i) MR = MC, and (ii) MC is rising (or MC is greater than MR beyond the point of equilibrium output)

This strategy is based on the fact that the total profit reaches its maximum point where marginal revenue equals marginal profit. This is the case because the firm will continue to produce until marginal profit is equal to zero, and marginal profit equals the marginal revenue (MR) minus the marginal cost (MC).

Pure or perfect competition is a theoretical market structure in which the following criteria are met: All firms sell an identical product (the product is a "commodity" or "homogeneous"). All firms are price takers (they cannot influence the market price of their product). Market share has no influence on prices.

In a monopolistic market, there is only one firm that produces a product. There is absolute product differentiation because there is no substitute. The marginal cost of production is the change in the total cost that arises when there is a change in the quantity produced. The marginal revenue is the change in the total revenue that arises when there is a change in the quantity produced. a firm maximizes its total profit by equating marginal cost to marginal revenue and solving for the price of one product and the quantity it must produce.

Supernormal profit is defined as extra profit above that level of normal profit. Supernormal profit is also known as abnormal profit. Abnormal profit means there is an incentive for other firms to enter the industry.

For a firm to achieve long run equilibrium, the marginal cost must be equal to the price and the long run average cost. That is, LMC = LAC = P. The firm adjusts the size of its plant to produce a level of output at which the LAC is minimum.

Monopolistic competition is a market structure which combines elements of monopoly and competitive markets. Essentially a monopolistic competitive market is one with freedom of entry and exit, but firms can differentiate their products. Because there is freedom of entry, supernormal profits will encourage more firms to enter the market leading to normal profits in the long term.