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Cbse Class 12 Micro Economics Notes Chapter 6

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An Overview of Cbse Class 12 Micro Economics Notes Chapter 6

If you’re curious about markets where there is less competition, then Cbse Class 12 Micro Economics Notes Chapter 6 is just for you. This chapter helps you explore how monopoly and oligopoly markets work, showing how prices and decisions are made when only one or a few sellers are in control. You’ll see why these topics are important for business and exam preparation.


Before you dive in, it’s a good idea to check the CBSE Class 12 Economics Syllabus to stay updated on which chapters to study.


Learning with Vedantu’s Class 12 Micro Economics Revision Notes can clear up your doubts and help you feel less confused with complex concepts. Since questions from these non-competitive markets often appear in exams, revising this chapter properly will definitely boost your confidence and help you score better.


Revision Notes Class 12 Micro Economics Chapter 6 – Non-Competitive Markets

Market: It is a mechanism or arrangement that brings buyers and sellers of a commodity or service together and allows them to complete the act of selling and buying the commodity or service at mutually agreed prices.


Market Structure


Perfect Competition: It is a market structure in which a large number of buyers and sellers compete for the same products at the same price, with firms free to enter and exit and no government control.

Since price remains constant in the presence of perfect competition, the average and marginal revenue curves coincide, i.e., they become equal and parallel to the x-axis.

Perfect Competition


Perfect Competition


Price is determined by the industry under perfect competition based on market forces of demand and supply. No single company can influence the product's price. A company can only make decisions about output. As a result, the industry sets the price, and the firm accepts the price.

  

Features of Perfect Competition

  1. It comprises an enormous number of purchasers and vendors.

  2. The product is homogeneous.

  3. Market entry and exit are unrestricted.

  4. Extensive knowledge.

  5. Unrivaled mobility.

  6. A demand curve that is perfectly elastic.

  7. There are no transportation costs.


Monopoly Market: A monopoly market is one in which there is a single seller and a large number of buyers. There are no close substitutes for the products.

Some Features of the Monopoly Market:

  1. A single seller with a large number of potential buyers.

  2. Barriers to new firms entering the market.

  3. There are no close substitutes available.

  4. Complete price control.

  5. Discrimination based on price.

  6. It is a price maker.

  7. A demand curve with a downward slant that is less elastic.


Average Revenue (AR) or Marginalised Revenue (MR) Curve in Monopoly Market:

The income or revenue received by the firm per unit of an item sold is known as the Average Revenue (AR). The AR (Demand) Curve is less elastic than that of monopolistic competition, sloping downward from left to right. It means that in order to increase demand, the price must be reduced. Given the demand for his product, the monopolist can increase sales by lowering the price; however, the marginal revenue declines at a faster rate than the average revenue declines. A monopolist sets either the price or the output. He can't make both decisions at the same time.


Average Revenue Curve in Monopoly Market


Monopolistic Competition: It is a market in which a large number of buyers and sellers are present. The sellers offer a variety of products, not all of which are identical. The products are nearly identical to one another.


Some Features of Monopolistic Competition:

  1. A large number of potential buyers and sellers

  2. Differentiation of products based on colour, flavour, packaging, trademark, and size.

  3. The cost of advertising and sales promotion.

  4. Unrestricted entry and exit of businesses.

  5. Price control, but only in parts.

  6. A lack of complete knowledge.

  7. A demand curve that is elastic and slopes downward.

  8. Production factors and products are not perfectly mobile.


Average Revenue (AR) or Marginalised Revenue (MR) Curve in Monopolist Market:

The AR (Demand) Curve is a downward sloping curve that is more elastic and flatter than the monopoly curve. It means that a monopolistic competitive firm's demand will change more in response to a price change than a monopoly firm's demand. The AR and MR curves are both downward sloping because the only way to sell more units is to lower the price. MR is located beneath AR.

Average Revenue (AR) or Marginalised Revenue (MR) Curve in Monopolist Market


Oligopoly: It is a market structure in which only a few firms can prevent the others from exerting significant influence.


Important Characteristics of Oligopoly Market:

  1. There are only a few sellers who control all or most of the industry's sales


  1. Each firm creates a product that is either homogeneous or differentiated.

  2. The demand curve in an oligopoly cannot be determined.

  3. In terms of price determination, all firms are interdependent.


Oligopoly Can Be Categorised Into Two Categories on the Basis of Production:

  1. Collusive oligopoly is a type of oligopoly in which all firms agree to avoid competition and set prices and output quantities through cooperative behaviour.

  2. Non-collusive oligopoly is a type of oligopoly in which all firms set their prices and output quantities in response to rival firms' actions and reactions.


Oligopoly Can Be Categorised Into Two Categories on the Basis of Differentiation:

  1. When firms deal with homogeneous products, they form a type of oligopoly known as a perfect oligopoly.

  2. When there is product differentiation, an imperfect oligopoly occurs. It deals with heterogeneous products.


Price Maker: It is an establishment, for example, a firm, that has an imposing business model or monopoly that permits it to impact the value it charges in light of the fact that the goods it produces do not have a perfect substitute. Within the monopolistic competition, a price maker produces goods that differ in some way from the products of its competitors.


The State of Demand Curve Under Various Market Structures:

  • Monopoly is a market category in which there is only one seller and thus no distinction between a firm and an industry. Because the firm is an industry in and of itself, the demand curve of the individual firm and the demand curve of the industry will be the same. Furthermore, because there are no close substitutes when there is a monopoly, the demand curve is relatively steeper, indicating relatively inelastic demand.

  • Monopolistic competition occurs when a group of monopolists competes to produce a differentiated product. Each company's product is slightly different from the others. Because substitutes exist, each firm's product demand curve is downward sloping and relatively elastic. The industry demand curve has little meaning in monopolistic competition because there are many sellers with differentiated products.

In an oligopoly market, there are only a few sellers who produce differentiated or homogeneous goods. The actions of competitors have an impact on the demand for a company's product. In an oligopolistic market, a firm's demand curve has a kink.


Marginal Revenue Value in an Elastic Demand Curve

When the demand curve is elastic, the value of marginal revenue will be positive. The relationship between the value of MR and the demand curve is depicted graphically in the diagram below. The marginal and average revenue curves are sloping downward from left to right, as shown in the diagram.

Marginal Revenue Value in an Elastic Demand Curve


Price Elasticity and Marginal Revenue:

Price elasticity and marginal revenue have a direct relationship. The more elastic a good's demand is, the more it is affected by supply changes. Marginal revenue and price are equal in a competitive market. As a result, price elasticity and marginal revenue have a direct relationship in a competitive market. Marginal revenue is less than price in a natural monopoly. Because low prices are a primary driver of monopoly, this is the case. As a result, price elasticity has a direct relationship with marginal revenue in a monopoly.

Price and cost, both of which are a function of demand, drive marginal revenue. Higher revenues are generated by higher prices and lower costs. Higher volume generates more revenue and lowers costs due to economies of scale. The effect is cyclical, with the cost-cutting benefit offset by the revenue loss from lower prices. Changes in price will have no effect on demand if the good is price inelastic. Because price has no effect on demand, raising the price will increase revenue. Furthermore, the cost savings from increased volume do not need to be passed on to the customer. Marginal Revenue is expressed as:

MR = P[1-(1/Ep)]

Where MR = Marginal Revenue, 

P = P= Product’s market price

Ep = The price elasticity of demand for the product.


Class 12 Microeconomics Chapter 6 Revision Notes

The chapter – Non-Competitive Markets have equal weightage in regard of marks in the HS exam. CBSE conducts their board exam of economics class 12 keeping a note on this chapter as well. Students are required to revise this and hence refer to the revision notes thus provided by us.


We have exclusively planned the revision notes keeping in mind the frequency of falling off track with this chapter by the HS students at the end of their session before their HS exam. Even these are assured as the best and quick notes to revise in a snap before the few minutes of the exam, assuring the mental calmness and readiness of the student with this revision material.


In the notes we revised on – Monopoly Market, Features of Monopoly Market,  AR or MR Curve in the Monopoly Market, Monopolistic Competition, Features of Monopolistic Competition, AR or MR in Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly, Features of Oligopoly, A Monopoly is a Price Maker, Price Elasticity and Marginal Revenue.

The motive here is to provide the students, the brief knowledge of the whole content keeping it short and crisp.


Key Takeaways of the Revision Notes and Few Suggestions for the Students

Students revising from these notes are equally ready for the exam and have a strong foothold over the chapter, the important topics revised here as follows:

  1. Monopoly Market: The Definition of Monopoly is very important in regard to this chapter.

Monopoly Operates in a less substitutable market, where there is a single seller with a large number of buyers. This is the basic meaning of Monopoly.

  1. Features of Monopoly: Further to explore more about this type of Markets, students are guided in this study of the features grounded in this market.

Also, no doubt this is another important topic from the examination point of view.

  1. AR and MR Curve:

These two curves are utmost important to understand the difference and the concept between these two.


Students are frequently asked to present these curves with explanation to their occurrence.

  1. Oligopoly:

This form of Market structure functions in close performance with the smaller number of sellers or firms who aggressively compete against each other in a non-price manner basically.


Why These Revision Notes?

Students follow the revising strategy mandatorily to prepare for the HS exam, they should revise side by side for their new learning:

  1. Revision is prior in the boards exam, students regain their memory by mere re-viewing this chapter earlier studied in the classes.

  2. The theory of this type of market is important as well hence to note it down in one place and to revise the whole chapter students can easily do it from here.

  3. The graphs are also capitulated here for easy revision of the same too.

  4. It acts as an ultimate guide for the students before the exam as it summarizes the whole chapter in a capsule.

  5. Students will never fall out from their studies or important chapters like this one, following these revision notes.

  6. This is an important chapter, students need to be clear about the definitions and also the graph thus they need frequent revision hence these notes are provided.

  7. They do not need to put extra effort in making revision notes they can resort to this anytime.

NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Class 12 Micro Economics Revision Notes

Question 1. Why is the demand curve negatively sloped under monopolistic competition? 

Answer:

  1. For product differentiation the demand curve of a firm under monopolistic competition is negatively sloped.

  2. The product of the sellers are differentiated yet they are the close substitutes of one another.

  3. Each seller has a definite degree of monopoly power of ‘Making’ the price. As there are other close substitutes available, the result of the curve is downward sloping and is also an elastic demand curve.

FAQs on Cbse Class 12 Micro Economics Notes Chapter 6

1. What is a non-competitive market as per the Class 12 syllabus?

A non-competitive market is a market structure where individual firms possess the power to influence the price of their products. Unlike in perfect competition where firms are price takers, firms in non-competitive markets are price makers due to factors like a small number of sellers, product differentiation, or significant barriers to entry.

2. What are the main types of non-competitive markets?

The primary types of non-competitive markets studied in Class 12 Microeconomics are:

  • Monopoly: A market structure with only one seller and many buyers, offering a product with no close substitutes.
  • Monopolistic Competition: A market with a large number of sellers offering differentiated products that are close, but not perfect, substitutes.
  • Oligopoly: A market dominated by a few large firms, where each firm's actions significantly impact the others.

3. How does a non-competitive market fundamentally differ from a perfect competition market?

The fundamental difference lies in market power. In perfect competition, numerous firms sell a homogeneous product, and no single firm can influence the price (they are price takers). In a non-competitive market, firms have some control over price because of product differentiation (monopolistic competition), being the sole provider (monopoly), or strategic interdependence (oligopoly).

4. What does it mean for a firm to be a 'price maker'?

A 'price maker' is a firm that can set or influence the price of its goods or services without losing all its customers. This power arises in non-competitive markets like monopoly and monopolistic competition because the products they offer do not have perfect substitutes. A price maker faces a downward-sloping demand curve, meaning it can sell more by lowering the price.

5. What are the key features to remember for a monopoly market?

For a quick revision of monopoly, remember these key features:

  • Single Seller: There is only one firm that constitutes the entire industry.
  • No Close Substitutes: The product sold has no readily available alternatives.
  • Barriers to Entry: Strong barriers, such as patents, licenses, or control over resources, prevent new firms from entering.
  • Price Maker: The monopolist has significant control over the price or output level.

6. Explain the relationship between the Average Revenue (AR) and Marginal Revenue (MR) curves under monopoly.

In a monopoly, both the Average Revenue (AR) and Marginal Revenue (MR) curves are downward sloping. Since a monopolist must lower the price to sell more units, the revenue from each additional unit (MR) is less than the average price (AR). Therefore, the MR curve lies below the AR curve, and it declines at a faster rate.

7. What is monopolistic competition and how does it differ from a pure monopoly?

Monopolistic competition is a market with many sellers offering similar but not identical products (e.g., restaurants, salons). It differs from a monopoly in two key ways: there are many firms instead of one, and there are no significant barriers to entry. While a monopolist sells a unique product, firms in monopolistic competition sell differentiated products with many close substitutes.

8. How does product differentiation influence the demand curve in monopolistic competition?

Product differentiation, achieved through branding, quality, or packaging, gives each firm a mini-monopoly over its specific version of the product. This makes the firm's demand curve downward-sloping, as it has some power to set prices. However, because many close substitutes exist, the demand curve is also highly elastic—a small price increase can cause a significant loss of customers to competitors.

9. Why do firms in monopolistic competition typically earn only normal profits in the long run?

Firms in monopolistic competition earn only normal profits in the long run due to the freedom of entry and exit. If existing firms earn super-normal profits, new firms are attracted to the market. This increases the number of substitutes, reduces the demand for existing firms' products, and erodes their profits until they reach the break-even point (normal profit).

10. What is an oligopoly, and what are its main characteristics?

An oligopoly is a market structure dominated by a few large firms. Its key characteristics include a high degree of interdependence (one firm's pricing decisions affect all others), significant barriers to entry, and the sale of either homogeneous (e.g., steel) or differentiated (e.g., cars) products. Firms often engage in non-price competition, like advertising and marketing.

11. Why is the demand curve for a firm in an oligopoly market often considered indeterminate?

The demand curve is considered indeterminate due to the strategic interdependence among firms. A firm cannot predict with certainty how its rivals will react to a price change. If a firm lowers its price, rivals might follow suit, leading to a price war. If it raises its price, rivals might not, causing the firm to lose market share. This unpredictability makes it impossible to define a precise demand curve for an individual oligopolistic firm.

12. Can you give some real-world examples of monopoly and oligopoly in the Indian context?

Certainly. For revision, you can think of these examples:

  • Monopoly Example: Indian Railways is a classic example of a monopoly in rail transportation in India.
  • Oligopoly Examples: The automobile industry (dominated by firms like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors) and the telecommunications sector (with major players like Jio, Airtel, and Vi) are clear examples of oligopoly markets.