How is the equilibrium number of firms determined in a market where entry and exit is permitted?
The characteristic of free entry and exit of firms ensures that all the firms in a perfect competitive market earn normal profit, i.e. the market price is always equal to the minimum of LAC. No new firm will be attracted to enter the market or no existing firm will leave, if the price is equal to the minimum of LAC. Thus, the number of firms is determined by the equality of price and the minimum of LAC. The market equilibrium is determined by the intersection of market
demand curve (D1D1) and the price line. The equilibrium price is P1 and the equilibrium output is q1. At this equilibrium price, each firm supplies the same output q1f. as it is assumed that all the firms are identical. Therefore, at the equilibrium, the number of firms in the market is equal to the number of firms required to supply output q1 at price P1, and each in turn supplying q1f amount at the price. That is n =
Where,
n = number of firms at market equilibrium
q1 = the equilibrium quantity demanded
q1f = the quantity of output supplied by each firm
How will a change in the price of coffee affect the equilibrium price of tea? Explain the effect on equilibrium quantity also through a diagram.
When do we say that there is an excess demand for a commodity in the market?
Suppose the price at which the equilibrium is attained in exercise 5 is above the minimum average cost of the firms constituting the market. Now if we allow for free entry and exit of firms, how will the market price adjust to it?
Suppose the market determined rent for apartments is too high for common people to afford. If the government comes forward to help those seeking apartments on rent by imposing control on rent, what impact will it have on the market for apartments?
Explain through a diagram the effect of a rightward shift of both the demand and supply curves on equilibrium price and quantity.
How are equilibrium price and quantity affected when income of the consumers
a) Increase
b) Decrease
Explain market equilibrium.
Explain how price is determined in a perfectly competitive market with a fixed number of firms.
Suppose the demand and supply curves of salt are given by:
(a) Find the equilibrium price and quantity.
(b) Now, suppose that the price of an input that used to produce salt has increased so, that the new supply curve is qs = 400 + 3p
How does the equilibrium price and quantity change? Does the change conform to your expectation?
(a) Suppose the government has imposed at ax of Rs 3 per unit of sale on salt. How does it affect the equilibrium rice quantity?
When do we say that there is an excess supply for a commodity in the market?
Explain the concept of a production function
What would be the shape of the demand curve so that the total revenue curve is?
(a) A positively sloped straight line passing through the origin?
(b) A horizontal line?
Discuss the central problems of an economy.
What are the characteristics of a perfectly competitive market?
What do you mean by the budget set of a consumer?
What is the total product of input?
From the schedule provided below calculate the total revenue, demand curve and the price elasticity of demand:
Quantity |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Marginal Revenue |
10 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
What do you mean by the production possibilities of an economy?
How are the total revenue of a firm, market price, and the quantity sold by the firm related to each other?
What is budget line?
A firm earns a revenue of Rs 50 when the market price of a good is Rs 10. The market price increases to Rs 15 and the firm now earns a revenue of Rs 150. What is the price elasticity of the firm’s supply curve?
Consider a market with two firms. The following table shows the supply schedules of the two firms: the SS1 column gives the supply schedule of firm 1 and the SS2 column gives the supply schedule of firm 2. Compute the market supply schedule.
Price (Rs.) | SS1 (units) | SS2 (units) |
---|---|---|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
0 0 0 1 2 3 4 |
0 0 0 1 2 3 4 |
What is the total product of input?
What is the relation between market price and marginal revenue of a price-taking firm?
What do you understand by positive economic analysis?
There are three identical firms in a market. The following table shows the supply schedule of firm 1. Compute the market supply schedule.
Price (Rs.) | SS1 (units) |
---|---|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 |
What does the price elasticity of supply mean? How do we measure it?
How does the imposition of a unit tax affect the supply curve of a firm?
If the monopolist firm of Exercise 3 was a public sector firm. The government set a rule for its manager to accept the government fixed price as given (i.e. to be a price taker and therefore behave as a firm in a perfectly competitive market). And the government has decided to set the price so that demand and supply in the market are equal. What would be the equilibrium price, quantity and profit in this case?
What is the relation between market price and average revenue of a price-taking firm?