In: Economics
Assume a competitive market for hairdressers in equilibrium. Explain how a single hairdresser may increase the prices in this market. Illustrate it in a graph
Suppose hairdresser market is a competitive market. . It has
large number of buyers and sellers. A single firm can not influence
the price of product. The product sold by a seller can never been
distinguished from the product sold by another seller. There is
free entry and exit in hairdresser competitive market. So
hairdresser firm will earn only normal profit in long run. Price of
hairdressing is determined by the market demand and market supply
of hairdressing when they are equal. The determined price is taken
each hairdresser in market. So each hairdresser is price taker.
Hairdresser maximises its profit when its marginal revenue is equal
to marginal cost. Demand curve faced by hairdresser is infinitely
elastic. Demand curve = average revenue =price is marginal revenue
In hairdresser market , price P is determined when market demand
curve DD intersects market supply curve SS .P level of price will
taken by each hairdresser. They will sell output OQ at OP ( market
determined price when MR curve cuts MC curve from below If a single
hairdresser may increase the prices in this market , he will lose
all of his market share to its competitors. If he increased the
prices, all of its customers will simply switch to another seller.
When he increased the price toP1 he has to reduce the sale of
output to OQ1 due to fall in demand for its products due to higher
prices