How a Firm is a 'Price Taker' in Perfect Competition Market?
In a perfect competition market, a firm is a 'price taker' because it has no control over the price of the product or service it sells.
Characteristics of Perfect Competition Market
- Large number of buyers and sellers
- Homogeneous products
- Perfect information
- No barriers to entry or exit
- No individual buyer or seller can influence the market price
Explanation of Price Taker
In a perfect competition market, the market price is determined by the forces of demand and supply. Since a single firm has a negligible impact on the market price, it has to accept the price that is determined by the market. As a result, the firm is said to be a 'price taker'.
For example, if the equilibrium price of a product in the market is $10, a firm cannot charge a higher price than $10 because there are other firms selling the same product at the same price. Similarly, the firm cannot charge a lower price than $10 because it will not be profitable to do so.
No Control Over Price
A firm in a perfect competition market has no control over the price of the product or service it sells. The price is determined by the market and the firm has to accept it. The firm can only decide the quantity of the product or service it wants to produce and sell.
Conclusion
Thus, a firm in a perfect competition market is a 'price taker' because it has no control over the price of the product or service it sells. The price is determined by the market and the firm has to accept it.