4.4

Monopolistic Competition

AP Microeconomics

Characteristics

Short-Run Analysis: Looks Like Monopoly

SR Profit123456789101112345678910111213141516Quantity$/unitMR=MCPmATCD (SR)MRMCATC

Short run: economic profit — same graph as monopoly

Long-Run Adjustment: Zero Economic Profit

12345678910123456789101112131415Quantity$/unitP = ATC (tangent)MR=MCD (LR)MRMCATC

Long-run: D curve shifts left until tangent to ATC → zero economic profit

Efficiency in Monopolistic Competition

Is it allocatively efficient? NO

Is it productively efficient? NO

Excess Capacity

Monopolistic Competition vs. Perfect Competition

Monopolistic Competition vs. Monopoly

The Role of Advertising

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Common Mistakes