As input for a presentation that you are jointly authoring, one of your marketing analysts submitted the following summary of the characteristics of the four different types of market structures companies compete in: Competitive Structure Number of Competitors Market Barriers to Entry Monopolistic Competition Unlimited No Barriers Monopoly Few Some Barriers Pure Competition Many Few Barriers Oligopoly One Many Barriers With respect to the classifications of number of competitors and barriers to entry, which one of the following statements is correct? a. The monopolistic competition structure is properly classified. b. The pure competition and oligopoly structures are properly classified. c. The oligopoly structure is properly classified. d. The monopoly structure is properly classified. e. The monopoly and oligopoly structures’ classifications should be reversed.

a. The monopolistic competition structure is properly classified.

Explanation:

A perfect competition is characterized by many buyers and sellers of homogenous goods and services. Market prices are set by the forces of demand and supply. There are no barriers to entry or exit of firms into the industry.  

In the long run, firms earn zero economic profit.  If in the short run firms are earning economic profit, in the long run firms would enter into the industry. This would drive economic profit to zero.  

Also, if in the short run, firms are earning economic loss, in the long run, firms would exit the industry until economic profit falls to zero.  

A monopolistic competition is when there are many firms selling differentiated products in an industry. There are no barriers to entry or exit of firms. A monopoly has characteristics of both a monopoly and a perfect competition. the demand curve is downward sloping. it sets the price for its goods and services.

An example of monopolistic competition are restaurants  

A monopoly is when there is only one firm operating in an industry. there are usually high / many barriers to entry of firms. the demand curve is downward sloping. it sets the price for its goods and services.

An example of a monopoly is a utility company

An Oligopoly is when there are few large firms operating in an industry. While, a monopoly is when there is only one firm operating in an industry.

Oligopolies are characterised by:

disadvantages of leasing a vehicle: no vehicle equity and mileage limitations

disadvantages of purchasing a vehicle: large down payment and vehicle depreciation

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