There are many stock markets around the world, with 18 internationally referenced exchanges and many other local and commodity-based exchanges. For example, there are approximately 2300 listed companies on the New York Stock Exchange as of July 6, 2011.
Business economists work in such areas as manufacturing, mining, transportation, communications, banking, insurance, retailing, private industry, securities and investment firms, management consulting firms, and economic and market research firms,
There are only normal profits in the market, so no firms will enter or exit the market.
As of my last update, there are around 10 to 15 major prime brokers in the United States, including well-known firms like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley. The exact number can vary due to market conditions, mergers, and acquisitions. Additionally, there are smaller firms and niche players that also provide prime brokerage services. Overall, the landscape is dynamic and subject to change.
Firms may continue operating despite not breaking even due to several reasons, such as covering fixed costs while waiting for market conditions to improve or to maintain market presence. They may also be investing in long-term growth, sacrificing short-term profits for future profitability. Additionally, companies might have access to sufficient capital reserves or financing that allows them to sustain operations until they can achieve profitability.
Q-theory, primarily developed by economist James Tobin, is used to analyze investment decisions by comparing the market value of a firm to the replacement cost of its assets. The "q" ratio, defined as the market value divided by the asset replacement cost, informs whether firms should invest in new capital. A q ratio greater than one suggests that market values are high relative to costs, incentivizing firms to invest, while a ratio below one indicates that investment may not be warranted. This theory helps explain fluctuations in business investment and informs policy decisions regarding economic stimulation.
The market structure that is characterized by a small number of large firms that have some market power is called
Perfect competitionperfect competitionModel of the market based on the assumption that a large number of firms produce identical goods consumed by a large number of buyers. is a model of the market based on the assumption that a large number of firms produce identical goods consumed by a large number of buyers.
In an oligopoly, there are typically a few firms that dominate the market, leading to a limited number of competitors. These firms have significant market power and can influence prices and output levels, often resulting in interdependent decision-making. While the exact number of firms can vary, the key characteristic of an oligopoly is that it consists of a small group of companies that collectively hold a large market share.
An oligopoly is characterized by a market structure where a small number of large firms dominate the industry. These firms have substantial market power which allows them to influence prices and other market outcomes. Oligopolies often involve interdependence among firms, with decisions by one firm impacting the actions of others in the market.
Significant features for a market structure include the number of firms and their scale, market share of the bigger firms, the nature of costs, extent of product differentiation, turnover of customers, and vertical integration.
The relationship between the number of firms in a market and their influence over price is inversely proportional. In perfectly competitive markets, a larger number of firms leads to greater competition, which typically drives prices down as firms cannot set prices above market equilibrium. Conversely, in markets with fewer firms or monopolies, firms have more power to influence or set prices, often leading to higher prices for consumers. Thus, as the number of firms increases, their individual influence over pricing diminishes.
The market structure characterized by a few large firms dominating the market is known as oligopoly. In an oligopoly, these firms have significant market power and can influence prices and output levels. Due to the limited number of competitors, firms in an oligopoly often engage in strategic behavior, such as collusion or price wars, to maintain their market position. Common examples include the automotive and telecommunications industries.
A market structure characterized by a large number of firms producing the same product is known as perfect competition. In this structure, no single firm can influence the market price due to the homogeneity of the product and the presence of many competitors. Firms are price takers, meaning they accept the market price determined by supply and demand. This structure encourages efficiency and innovation, as firms strive to minimize costs and maximize output.
a market structure in which a large number of firms all produce the same product
An oligopoly is a market structure characterized by a small number of firms that dominate the market, leading to interdependent decision-making and significant barriers to entry. In contrast, monopolistic competition features many firms that sell differentiated products, allowing for some degree of market power while maintaining relatively easy entry and exit for new firms. While firms in an oligopoly may engage in collusion to set prices, firms in monopolistic competition compete primarily on product differentiation and marketing. Overall, the key differences lie in the number of firms, product differentiation, and market power.
The concept of perfect competition is based on a large number of small firms, where no single firm can affect the market price. These firms operate as price takers, and use the cost supplied by the market. These ideal companies would insure efficiency. However, perfect competitive firms are unrealistic in real world scenarios.
The market model that assumes the least number of firms in an industry is the monopoly model. In a monopoly, a single firm dominates the market, controlling the entire supply of a product or service, which allows it to exert significant pricing power. This structure contrasts sharply with models like perfect competition or oligopoly, which involve multiple firms competing in the market. Consequently, monopolies can lead to less consumer choice and potential market inefficiencies.