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.
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?
When do we say that there is an excess demand for a commodity in the market?
When do we say that there is an excess supply for a commodity in the market?
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 market equilibrium.
In what respect do the supply and demand curves in the labor market differ from those in the goods market?
Explain how price is determined in a perfectly competitive market with a fixed number of firms.
Explain through a diagram the effect of a rightward shift of both the demand and supply curves on equilibrium price and quantity.
If the price of a substitute Y of good X increases, what impact does it have on the equilibrium price and quantity of good X?
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?
Let the production function of a firm be Q=5L1/2K1/2Q=5L1/2K1/2 Find out the maximum possible output that the firm can produce with 100 units of LL and 100 units of KK.
Explain the concept of a production function
Explain the relationship between the marginal products and the total product of an input.
The following table gives the average product schedule of labour. Find the total product and marginal product schedules. It is given that the total product is zero at zero level of labour employment.
Suppose a consumer wants to consume two goods which are available only in
integer units. The two goods are equally priced at Rs 10 and the consumer’s
income is Rs 40.
(i) Write down all the bundles that are available to the consumer.
(ii) Among the bundles that are available to the consumer, identify those which cost her exactly Rs 40.
Can there be a positive level of output that a profit-maximising firm produces in a competitive market at which market price is not equal to marginal cost? Give an explanation.
What do you mean by the budget set of a consumer?
What do you mean by an ‘inferior good’? Give some examples
Will a profit-maximising firm in a competitive market produce a positive level of output in the long run if the market price is less than the minimum of AC? Give an explanation.
Consider a market with two firms. In the following table, columns labelled as SS1 and SS2 give the supply schedules of firm 1 and firm 2 respectively. Compute the market supply schedule.
Price (Rs.) | SS1 (kg) | SS2 (kg) |
---|---|---|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
0 0 0 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 |