📚 Learning Guide
Market Structures and Profit Maximization
hard

Which of the following statements accurately describe the characteristics of firms in a perfectly competitive market? Select all that apply.

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Choose the Best Answer

A

Firms are price takers and cannot influence the market price.

B

Firms can earn positive economic profits in the long run due to barriers to entry.

C

The marginal revenue for a firm is equal to the market price.

D

Firms achieve profit maximization by producing where marginal cost equals marginal revenue.

E

All firms in the market have identical cost structures.

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

Firms in a perfectly competitive market have several key characteristics that set them apart. First, there are many sellers and buyers, meaning no single firm can control the market price; they are price takers. Each firm sells identical products, so consumers have no reason to choose one firm over another based purely on the product. Additionally, firms can freely enter or exit the market, which means if they see an opportunity to make profits, new firms can join, and if they are losing money, they can leave easily. For example, in a market for strawberries, if one farm tries to charge more than others, customers will simply buy from the other farms selling at the lower price.

Detailed Explanation

In a perfectly competitive market, firms cannot set prices or earn long-term profits. Other options are incorrect because Some might think firms can influence prices; It's a common mistake to believe firms can earn long-term profits.

Key Concepts

Perfect Competition
Profit Maximization
Market Dynamics
Topic

Market Structures and Profit Maximization

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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