PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (OER)
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (OER)
2nd Edition
ISBN: 9781947172340
Author: Timothy Taylor, Steven A. Greenlaw
Publisher: OpenStax
Textbook Question
Book Icon
Chapter 8, Problem 1SCQ

Firms ill a perfectly competitive market are said to be “price takers” that is, once the market determines an equilibrium price for the product, firms must accept this price. If you sell a product in a perfectly competitive market, but you are not happy with its price, would you raise the price, even by a cent?

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
To determine

Why all the firms are considered as price takers in a perfectly competitive market.

Explanation of Solution

Market equilibrium in a perfectly competitive market is attained with the forces of demand and supply. When the price is too high, the demand falls and when the demand falls, only a price fall will lead to increase in demand for the market to fix itself. All the firms are considered to be “price takers” because, all the buyers and sellers have all the information there is and as there are a large number of buyers and sellers dealing with homogeneous products, there will not be a single firm that can influence the price. If a firm increases the price, the buyers know that there are other sellers selling at a lower price and the firm that increased the price will have no buyers at all.

If you are a seller in a perfectly competitive market, and you are unhappy with the price, you would not raise the price, not even by a cent because you will know that if you increase the price even by a cent, all the buyers will shift to the other sellers as they know that they will be getting the exact same product at a lower cost.

Economics Concept Introduction

Concept introduction:

Perfect Competition- It refers to that market condition where there are a large number of buyers and sellers, who have perfect knowledge about the market, and there is existence of homogeneity in the commodities and all the firms are price takers.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
A linear programming computer package is needed. As part of the settlement for a class action lawsuit, Hoxworth Corporation must provide sufficient cash to make the following annual payments (in thousands of dollars). Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 Payment 170 195 220 265 295 440 The annual payments must be made at the beginning of each year. The judge will approve an amount that, along with earnings on its investment, will cover the annual payments. Investment of the funds will be limited to savings (at 4% annually) and government securities, at prices and rates currently quoted in The Wall Street Journal. Hoxworth wants to develop a plan for making the annual payments by investing in the following securities (par value = $1,000). Funds not invested in these securities will be placed in savings. Security Current Price Rate (%) Years to Maturity 1 $1,055 6.750 3 2 $1,000 5.125 4 Assume that interest is paid annually. The plan will be submitted to the judge and, if approved,…
On the 1st of April 2018, the South African National Treasury increase the value-added tax rate from 14% to 15%. This policy change had a wide-ranging impact on society. Discuss some of the benefits and drawbacks of making use of this type of tax to generate government revenue and what we may expect in terms of its impact on inflation and GDP growth within the economy.   Please use some of the economics graphs to explain some scenarios
Eskom is South Africa’s monopoly power producer which the majority of South Africans depend on. Suppose there is extensive deregulation in the power industry. What is the impact of this deregulation on the industry? Help me on discussing the new market structure as well as the impact on supply and demand.     Use the relevant diagrams.

Chapter 8 Solutions

PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (OER)

Ch. 8 - A single firm in a perfectly competitive market is...Ch. 8 - What are the four basic assumptions of perfect...Ch. 8 - What is a price taker firm?Ch. 8 - How does a perfectly competitive firm decide what...Ch. 8 - What prevents a perfectly competitive firm from...Ch. 8 - How does a perfectly competitive film calculate...Ch. 8 - Briefly explain the reason for the shape of a...Ch. 8 - What two rules does a perfectly competitive firm...Ch. 8 - How does the average cost curve help to show...Ch. 8 - What two lines on a cost curve diagram intersect...Ch. 8 - Should a firm shut down immediately if it is...Ch. 8 - How does the average variable cost curve help a...Ch. 8 - What two lines on a cost curve diagram intersect...Ch. 8 - Why does entry occur?Ch. 8 - Why does exit occur?Ch. 8 - Do entry and exit occur in the short run, the long...Ch. 8 - What price will a perfectly competitive firm end...Ch. 8 - Will a perfectly competitive market display...Ch. 8 - Will a perfectly competitive market display...Ch. 8 - Finding a life partner is a complicated process...Ch. 8 - Can you name five examples of perfectly...Ch. 8 - Your company operates in a perfectly competitive...Ch. 8 - Since a perfectly competitive firm can sell as...Ch. 8 - Many films in the United States file for...Ch. 8 - Why will profits for films in a perfectly...Ch. 8 - Why will losses for firms in a perfectly...Ch. 8 - Assuming that the market for cigarettes is in...Ch. 8 - In the argument for why perfect competition is...Ch. 8 - The AAA Aquarium Co. sells aquariums for 20 each....Ch. 8 - Perfectly competitive firm Doggies Paradise Inc....Ch. 8 - A computer company produces affordable,...
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Principles of Microeconomics
Economics
ISBN:9781305156050
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781337091992
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781305585126
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Principles of Macroeconomics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781285165912
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Brief Principles of Macroeconomics (MindTap Cours...
Economics
ISBN:9781337091985
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Principles of Microeconomics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781305971493
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning