Chapter 8: Imperfect Competition

8.1 Monopoly

Monopoly: only provider of a good

  • Caused by:
      * Patents
      * Control of resources
      * Economies of scale/other cost advantages
      * Exclusive licenses
      * Network externalities
        * Ex) Social media networks becoming valuable as people switch sites

8.2 Price Discrimination

Price discrimination: when seller can provide same good to different buys at different prices

  • Firm must have market power
  • Buyers with differing demand elasticities must be separable
  • Must be able to prevent reselling

Perfect price discrimination: when seller can charge each buyer the most they’re willing to pay for a good

8.3 Monopolistic Competition

  • Bilateral monopoly: when the market only has one buyer and one seller

8.4 Oligopoly and Game Theory

  • Oligopoly: where a few firms sell a standardized or differentiated product
  • Market power: ability of individual firm to influence price
  • Strategic decision-making: individual must make choice but consequences depend on factors that are unknown to the individual
  • Game theory: considers strategic decisions individuals in a game or market place will need to make to anticipate what a rival would do
  • Prisoner’s dilemma: situation where distrust leads two individuals to chose a less than optimal result

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