In: Economics
Contrast and discuss the individual demand curve among perfect competition, monopolistic competition and Monopoly.
Different market structures have
individual demand curve of different nature. In perfect
competition, the individual demand curve is a horizontal line
(perfectly elastic) where the price is equal to marginal revenue
and average revenue. But, individual demand curve in monopolistic
competition and in monopoly is downward sloping. Here, individual
demand curve in the monopolistic competition is highly elastic in
nature. It means that slight change in price will lead to the
bigger change in the quantity demanded. In contrast to it,
individual demand curve to the left side when prices are high, are
more elastic and to the right side when prices are low, are
inelastic in nature. It is the reason that monopoly firms opt for
the production level that can maximize the profit level. Besides,
the downward sloping curve shows that the firm has market
power.
The slope of the individual demand curve for a monopolistic firm,
is higher than that of perfect competition and lower than that of
the monopoly in the market.