Equilibrium under Perfect Competition – I.

By now, you are aware of the different types of market and the objectives of a firm. In this article, we will talk about equilibrium under a perfectly competitive market, the different equilibrium states, and how a firm decides on the level of output.

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Introduction

In a perfectly competitive market, a firm cannot change the price of a product by modifying the quantity of its output. Further, the input and cost conditions are given.

Therefore, the firm can alter the quantity of its output without changing the price of the product. We know that a firm is in equilibrium when its profits are maximum, which relies on the cost and revenue conditions of the firm.

These conditions can vary in the long and short-term. Before we take a look at the equilibrium states, let’s look at the demand curve of a product under perfect competition.

Browse more Topics under Analysis Of Market

• Basic Concepts of Revenue
• Market and Concept of Markets
• Equilibrium of the Firm
• Total Revenue Approach
• Marginal Revenue Approach
• Perfect Competition
• Equilibrium under Perfect Competiton – II
• Monopoly
• Equilibrium in Monopoly
• Monopolistic Competition
• Equilibrium under Monopolistic Competition
• Oligopoly

Demand Curve of a Product in a Perfectly Competitive Market

Let’s derive the firm’s demand curve with the help of the market’s demand and supply curve. In perfect competition, the equilibrium of the market’s demand and supply determines the price.

In the figure above, Price is on the Y-axis and Quantity on the X-axis. The left side of the figure represents the industry and the right side the case of a firm. The market demand curve is DD and the market supply curve is SS.

Further, the point at which the market’s demand and supply curves intersect each other is the equilibrium point. The price at this level is the equilibrium price and the quantity is the equilibrium quantity.

All firms receive this price in a perfectly competitive market. Also, firms are the price-takers and the industry is the price-maker. The Average Revenue (AR) Curve is the demand curve of the firm as it can sell any quantity it wants at the market price.

Short-run Equilibrium of a Competitive Firm

In the short-run, there the following assumptions:

• The price of the product is given and the firm can sell any quantity at that price
• The size of the plant of the firm is constant
• The firm faces given short-run cost curves

We know that the necessary and sufficient conditions for the equilibrium of a firm are:

1. MC = MR
2. MC curve cuts the MR curve from below

In other words, the MC curve must intersect the MR curve from below and after the intersection lie above the MR curve. In simpler terms, the firm must keep adding to its output as long as MR>MC.

This is because additional output adds more revenue than costs and increases its profits. Further, if MC=MR, but the firm finds that by adding to its output, MC becomes smaller than MR, then it must keep increasing its output.

Since it is a perfectly competitive market, the demand for the product of the firm is perfectly elastic. Further, it can sell all its output at the market price. Therefore, its demand curve runs parallel to the X-axis throughout its length and its MR curve coincides with the AR curve.

On the supply side, recall the four cost curves – AFC, AVC, MC, and ATC? Of these, the supply curve is that portion of the MC curve which lies above the AVC curve and is upward sloping.

In the short-run, the firm cannot avoid fixed costs. Even if the production is zero, the firm must incur these costs. Therefore, the firm cannot avoid losses by not producing and continues producing as long as its losses do not exceed its fixed costs. In other words, a firm produces as long as its average price equals or exceeds its AVC.

Three Possibilities in Short-run

In a perfectly competitive market, a firm can earn a normal profit, super-normal profit, or it can bear a loss. At the equilibrium quantity, if the average cost is equal to the average revenue, then the firm is earning a normal profit.

On the other hand, if the average cost is greater than the average revenue, then the firm is bearing a loss. However, if the average cost is less than average revenue, then the firm is earning super-normal profits.

Normal Profit

In the above figure, you can see that the costs and revenue are on the Y-axis and the Quantity is on the X-axis. Further, marginal costs cut the marginal revenue curve from below at point A. At point ‘A’, P is the equilibrium price and ‘Q’ is the equilibrium quantity.

Note that corresponding to the equilibrium quantity, the average cost is equal to the average revenue. It also means that the firm is earning a normal profit.

Loss

In the figure above, the cost and revenue curves are on the Y-axis and the quantity demanded is on the X-axis. Further, the marginal cost curve cuts the marginal revenue curve from below at point ‘A’, the equilibrium point.

Corresponding to point ‘A’, P* and Q* are the equilibrium price and quantity respectively. Also, corresponding to Q*, the average cost is more than the average revenue.

In this case, the per unit cost of OQ* (average cost) is more than the per unit revenue of OQ* (average revenue). As per the figure, the per unit revenue is OP and the per unit cost is OP’. this means that the per unit loss is PP’. Also, the total loss on quantity OQ* is P*P’BA.

Super-normal Profit

In the figure above, the per unit revenue or average revenue is OP* while the per unit cost or average cost is OP’. Therefore, the per unit receipts are high in comparison with the per unit cost.

That’s why the average revenue curve lies above the average cost curve corresponding to Q*. The firm is earning super-normal profits. The per unit profit is P’P* and the total profit is for quantity OQ* is P’P*BA.

Summary of the Equilibrium of a Competitive firm in the Short-run

In the figure above, we have taken five different prices to illustrate the supply behaviour and equilibrium of the firm. Further, each price has an average revenue curve which runs parallel to the X-axis and coincides with the MR curve.

MR₀

When the price is OP₀, the corresponding MR₀ curve cuts the MC curve at two points – A and B. At point ‘A’, none of the conditions of equilibrium are satisfied.

At point ‘B’, the MC curve cuts the MR₀ curve from below but AR is less than AVC. Therefore, the firm incurs a loss which is greater than its fixed cost if it decides to produce when the price is OP₀. Hence, the firm closes down.

MR₁

If the price is equal to OP₁ (equal to the least possible average variable cost), then the firm decides to produce. In this case, the MC curve cuts the MR₁ curve from below at point C and AR₁ is equal to AVC. Therefore, the firm either does not produce at all or produces equal to OM₁.

MR₂

If the price is equal to OP₂, it exceeds AVC but is less than ATC. The MR₂ and MC curves intersect each other at point D. The firm produces an output – OM₂. The firm still incurs a loss but it is less than its fixed costs.

MR₃

If the price rises to OP3, the firm can recover all its costs including the fixed costs. The MC curve cuts the MR₃ curve from below at point E and AR₃ is equal to ATC. Therefore, all the conditions of the equilibrium are satisfied and the firm produces an output – OM₃.

MR₄

If the price rises even higher, the point of intersection of MR₄ and MC curves moves to point F. In this case, the firm earns super-normal profits and produces OM₄.

Therefore, in the short-run, even if a firm incurs losses, it continues production until it loses start exceeding its fixed costs. On the other hand, if the firm earns super-normal profits, then new firms entering the market wipe it out.

Solved Question on Perfect Competition

Q1. What are the main assumptions under the short-run period of a competitive firm?

Answer: The main assumptions under the short-run period of a competitive firm are:

• The price of the product is given and the firm can sell any quantity at that price
• The size of the plant of the firm is constant
• The firm faces given short-run cost curves

Q2. What are the three possibilities for a firm’s equilibrium in a perfectly competitive market?

Answer: The three possibilities are:

1. The firm earns normal profits
2. It incurs losses
3. It earns super-normal profits