Learning Path
Question & Answer1
Understand Question2
Review Options3
Learn Explanation4
Explore TopicChoose 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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