Economics Macro and Micro Theory

2156 Words9 Pages
As Microsoft begin production of their next generation games console, define the following costs and explain the short run influences on each one. Illustrate your explanation of each cost with a diagram. Total cost Total cost has influences of both fixed cost and cariable cost. Whilst fixed costs are constant, variable costs are not. Variable costs include raw materials, energy/ power and labour cost. Total revenue is represented by an upward sloping straight line curve. Average cost Marginal cost is the additional to total cost when output is increased by one or more units. The MC controls the average total cost curve and cuts this curve at its lowest point. Marginal cost The games console market is an example of an oligopoly. Explain what is meant by the term ‘oligopoly’. An oligopoly is an economic condition in which there are so few independent suppliers of a particular product that competitive pricing does not take place. Oligopoly is a form of market where there is domination of a limited number of suppliers and sellers called Oligopolists. An oligopoly is much like a monopoly, in which only one company exerts control over most of a market. In an oligopoly, there are at least two firms controlling the market. An oligopoly is a market dominated by a few large suppliers. The degree of market concentration is very high. Firms within an oligopoly produce branded products and there are also barriers to entry. Another important characteristic of an oligopoly is interdependence between firms. This means that each firm must take into account the likely reactions of other firms in the market when making pricing and investment decisions. This creates uncertainty in such markets - which economists seek to model through the use of game theory. Describe the main characteristics of this type of market structure. •
Open Document