The emergence of competitive firms can be attributed to a variety of factors, including technological advancements, changes in consumer preferences, and shifts in regulatory policies.
Technological advancements have made it easier for firms to enter and compete in markets. For example, the Internet has reduced barriers to entry for many industries by lowering the costs of starting a business and facilitating communication with customers. In addition, technological advancements have made it easier for firms to gather and analyze data, which can help them make more informed decisions and better target their marketing efforts.
Changes in consumer preferences can also contribute to the emergence of competitive firms. For example, if consumers become more interested in eco-friendly products, firms that offer environmentally friendly options may have a competitive advantage over those that do not.
Regulatory policies can also play a role in the emergence of competitive firms. For example, antitrust laws aim to promote competition by preventing the formation of monopolies or the abuse of market power. By ensuring that multiple firms can compete in a given market, these policies can help to create a more level playing field and encourage innovation and efficiency.
Overall, the emergence of competitive firms is often driven by a combination of technological, societal, and regulatory factors that create new opportunities for businesses to enter and compete in markets.
High entry costs: Existing monopolies producing large volumes of output may be benefiting from economies of scale.
BARRIERS THAT CAN PREVENT THE EMERGENCE OF COMPETITIVE FIRMS.
This may mean that new competitors, probably producing a low volume of output, would be faced with higher per-unit costs and would not be able to compete effectively in the market.
There are several barriers that can prevent the emergence of competitive firms in a given market. These barriers can be broadly categorized as structural, regulatory, and strategic barriers.
Structural barriers refer to factors related to the market structure itself that make it difficult for new firms to enter and compete. For example, high fixed costs may make it difficult for new firms to achieve economies of scale, while network effects may make it difficult for new firms to attract customers in markets dominated by a few large players.
Regulatory barriers can also prevent the emergence of competitive firms. Regulations can create entry barriers by imposing high costs or administrative requirements on new firms. For example, licensing requirements or environmental regulations may make it difficult for new firms to enter a market.
Strategic barriers refer to actions taken by incumbent firms to prevent new firms from entering and competing. These can include tactics such as predatory pricing, exclusive contracts, or aggressive advertising that makes it difficult for new firms to gain a foothold in the market.
Other barriers to entry can include factors such as limited access to financing, lack of expertise, or difficulty in acquiring key resources or inputs needed to produce goods or services.
Overall, these barriers can make it difficult for new firms to enter and compete in a market, which can result in reduced innovation, limited consumer choice, and higher prices for goods and services. Policymakers may seek to address these barriers through measures such as antitrust enforcement, regulatory reform, or support for entrepreneurship and small business development.
- Possession of rare skill or knowledge: The possession of a special or rare skill or knowledge by a monopolist will make him excel, thereby making it difficult for other competitors to come into the business.
- Legal monopolies: Certain monopolies might be created by law which will make it difficult for other competitors to come into the business, e.g. public utilities like post office and PHCN.
- Patent and copyrights on an invention or innovation: A patent confers sole production rights for a given period of time on those who have invested in research and development of the product to enable them to earn a return on investment.
- Copyright restricts the production of printed or recorded materials in a similar way.
- Ownership of natural resources: owners of some natural resources prevent others from coming into the business, e.g. OPEC countries and oil.
- Unfair competition: Rivals may be eliminated and the entry of n competitors blocked by aggressive tactics, e.g. price wars.
- how to establish enterprises
- what is a firm
- price equilibrium
- scale of preference
- concept of economics
- economic tools for nation building
- budgeting
- factors affecting the expansion of industries
- mineral resources and the mining industries
- RINDER PESTS
148. NEWCASTLE DISEASE
149. BACTERIA DISEASES
150. ANTHRAX
151. BRUCELLOSIS
152. TUBERCULOSIS
153. FUNGAL DISEASES