ECONOMICS (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -What is Monopoly. Definition: A market structure characterized by a single seller, selling a unique product in the market. In a monopoly market, the seller faces no competition, as he is the sole seller of goods with no close substitute.

Detailed explanation-2: -A monopoly is a market structure where a single seller or producer assumes a dominant position in an industry or a sector. Monopolies are discouraged in free-market economies as they stifle competition and limit substitutes for consumers.

Detailed explanation-3: -An oligopoly refers to a market with only a few sellers. Monopolistic competition refers to situations where there are many sellers, but the products are highly differentiated. There are several important nuances to explore between these types of markets.

Detailed explanation-4: -The characteristics of monopoly include: (1) one firm, (2) one product, and (3) no entry (Table 5.1). The monopoly solution is shown in Figure 5.2. Note that long-run profits can exist for a monopoly, since barriers to entry halt any potential entrants from joining the industry.

Detailed explanation-5: -Monopoly and oligopoly are economic market conditions. Monopoly is defined by the dominance of just one seller in the market; oligopoly is an economic situation where a number of sellers populate the market.