Question map
Which one among the following pairs of type of firm and feature is not correctly matched ?
Explanation
The pair in option 3 is incorrectly matched because a monopoly firm does not produce an efficient level of output. In a monopoly, the firm restricts output and charges a higher price than a competitive market, leading to allocative inefficiency and deadweight loss. Socially optimal output occurs where price equals marginal cost (P=MC), but a monopolist produces where marginal revenue equals marginal cost (MR=MC), resulting in P > MC. Conversely, oligopoly is correctly characterized by mutual interdependence, where firms' decisions are significantly affected by their competitors. Monopolistic firms (including those in monopolistic competition) act as price setters rather than price takers because they possess market power through product differentiation. Finally, perfectly competitive firms are price takers that produce at the socially optimum level where P=MC, ensuring allocative efficiency.