1. Market Structures
The nature and degree of competition between firms operating in the same industry.

2. INDUSTRY (TYPE OF BUSINESS)
FIRM
(NAME OF BUSINESS)
FIRM
(NAME OF BUSINESS)
FIRM
(NAME OF BUSINESS)
STORE
(LOCATION OF BUSINESS)
STORE
(LOCATION OF BUSINESS)
STORE
(LOCATION OF BUSINESS)
STORE
(LOCATION OF BUSINESS)

3. Market Structures & Perfect Competition Reflections
As a group pick an industry- retail clothing stores, cereals, automobiles, grocery stores, auto parts, retail shoe stores.
On the top half of page 20 develop a tree map like the one we just did for your industry.

4. Different business types face different amounts of competition.
The level of competition can be described by placing market structures along a continuum.
Most amount of competition to Least amount of competition
Pure Competition Monopolistic Competition Oligopoly Monopoly
The amount of competition businesses within an industry face determines the prices and variety of goods available to customers

5. Perfect Competition Or Pure Competition Tomatoes 3 for $1.00

6. Characteristics of Perfect Competition
A large number of buyers and sellers (Individual firms have no influence over price).
Firms can easily go into and get out of business (low barriers).
Firms are selling identical products (Buyers won’t care who they buy from so individual firms have no influence over price).
Buyers and sellers are knowledgeable about the product’s price (A change in price will immediately change the amounts demanded and supplied for a firm).

7. Examples of Perfect Competition
Commodities
Natural gas, oil or coal
Agricultural products
Grains
Produce
Livestock

8. On page 20, give at least 5 more specific examples of commodities (goods sold at the factor of production level, that are identical between producers, and that there is only one market price)
Go back to page 18. Divide the page into fourths and draw me a picture that illustrates one of the first 4 vocabulary terms.

9. Monopoly

10. Characteristics of Monopolies
There is only one seller of the
product
There has to be extreme
barriers to entry
There are no close substitutes

11. Characteristics of Monopolies
The quantity available will be lower and the price will be higher than in a competitive market.
But the monopolist must take the Law of Demand into account.
Demand down
Prices up

12. BARRIERS TO ENTRY Develop economies of scale
Obtain a natural monopoly.
Obtain a patent on your product.
Obtain a government franchise
or license
Boeing Aircraft Factory

13. Barriers to Entry Government owned business
Use non-competitive practices
(threats/ bribes).

14. Barriers to Entry Limited demand.
Control all natural resources needed to make the product.

15. Examples of Monopolies
Water Companies
Each neighborhood has only one water company serving it because it is more cost effective (Natural Monopoly)
National sports leagues
The Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers never have to worry about competition because they have a franchise
Pharmaceuticals
When a company develops a new drug it is granted a patent for exclusive production for up to 20 years.

16. Monopoly Reflection (page 22)
Directions: Copy the following, fill in the blanks and answer the question.
_______________ (choose a company from the examples I gave you) is an example of a monopoly. The barrier(s) that keeps competitors out of this market are _______________________
__________________________________________
Government allows monopolies by granting patents. Explain why government does this.
Go back to page 18 and draw a picture illustrating one of the terms from section 2 vocabulary.

17. Monopolistic Competition
A market structure in which many firms sell products that are SIMILAR but NOT IDENTICAL

18. Monopolistic Competition
Characteristics of
Monopolistic Competition
Large number of buyers and sellers
Most firms are small
It is easy to get into and out of this industry (Start-up costs are low).
Similar, not identical, product (Substitutable goods between firms are differentiated).
Firms can raise prices (You can charge a higher price for a differentiated product).

19. Non-Price Competition
Big Mac
Whopper
Non-Price Competition
Or Product Differentiation
Firms may:
Make their product with an extra or new feature
Advertise heavily for name or product recognition
Choose a special location
Provide a higher level of service

20. Examples of Monopolistic Competition
Restaurants
Clothing stores
Gas stations
Grocery stores
Hairdressers

21. Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly Reflection
Divide page 24 in half
On the top half, choose a product that you regularly use and differentiate it –come up with at least 5 ways to make it different, better, more appealing to customers so you can charge more for it.
Go back to page 18, draw a picture illustrating one of terms

22. A market structure in which a few large firms dominate
Oligopoly
A market structure in which a few large firms dominate

23. Characterisitics of Oligopoly:
A few very large firms dominate this industry
There are many barriers to entry
Cost advantages (large start-up costs or economies of scale)
Legal barriers (patents & licenses)
Non-price competition (advertising)
Illegal barriers (collusion, price fixing, cartels)
Pricing decisions by one firm affect all other firms (price leadership)
Price wars common

24. Examples of Oligopoly Airlines Cereal companies Soft drink companies
Automobile manufacturers

25. Oligopoly Reflection
On the bottom half of page 24, complete the following.
Name four industries that fit the definition of oligopoly: a few large firms dominating the market.
For two of those firms explain what barriers from your notes are allowing them to do so.
Go back to page 18 and draw a picture of one of terms (Oligopoly).

26. Four Types of Monopolies: Natural
Government gives a company the exclusive right to provide goods or services within an area because the costs to consumers are lowered by having a single firm provide them (ex. AMUD, Charter Cable).

27. Geographic Monopolies
There are no other businesses in the immediate area to offer any competition due to low demand or extreme isolation (ex. Driftwood in Granbury).

28. Technological Monopolies
A firm or industry has created a new product or process and obtains a patent or copyright.(ex. Polaroid or pharmaceutical firms)

29. Government Monopolies
A government owned business that provides a product or service that private firms do not adequately provide (ex. US Post Office or Amtrak).