What is Monopolistic Competition?
Monopolistic competition is a type of market structure that describes a market situation where there are many firms selling a similar but slightly differentiated product. This market structure is in between a pure monopoly and a perfectly competitive market. The firms in a monopolistic competitive market have some degree of market power and can influence the price of their products. As a result, firms can earn economic profits in the short run, but the profits are not sustainable in the long run.
How is Monopolistic Competition Different from a Monopoly?
A monopoly is a market structure in which there is one seller of a good or service, and the seller has complete control over the price of the good or service. Monopolistic competition is different from a monopoly in that there are multiple firms in the market, and each firm has some degree of control over the price of the product. The firms compete with each other based on price and product differentiation.
Are Monopolistic Competition and Monopoly Closely Related?
Monopolistic competition and monopoly are considered to be two distinct market structures, but they are related in that they both involve some degree of market power. In a monopoly, the single seller has complete control over the price of the good or service, while in a monopolistically competitive market, the firms have some degree of control over the price. Monopolistic competition is closer to a perfectly competitive market than a monopoly, though, as the firms in a monopolistically competitive market have to compete on price and product differentiation.
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