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Q1. In perfect competition, a firm's average revenue curve is:
Answer: A — In perfect competition, AR = p (market price), which is constant, so the AR curve is horizontal; it is also the firm's demand curve.
Q2. Which of the following is NOT a defining feature of perfect competition?
Answer: B — Perfect competition requires homogeneous products with no differentiation; if firms could differentiate through branding, it would be monopolistic competition.
Q3. A firm in perfect competition maximises profit where:
Answer: B — Profit is maximum where MR = MC with MC rising; comparing AR to AC determines the type of profit (supernormal, normal, or loss), not the output quantity.
Q4. The shut-down point for a firm occurs when:
Answer: B — The firm shuts down and exits when AR (price) < AVC; at this point it cannot cover variable costs, so leaving the market minimises losses.
Q5. In perfect competition, marginal revenue is:
Answer: B — MR = ΔTR/ΔQ = p in perfect competition; since price is constant (horizontal demand), selling one more unit adds exactly p to total revenue.
Q6. A firm earns supernormal profit in the short run when:
Answer: B — Supernormal profit exists when AR > AC; MR = MC determines the quantity, but comparing AR to AC at that quantity determines whether profit is supernormal, normal, or a loss.
Q7. In long-run equilibrium under perfect competition, new firms stop entering the market because:
Answer: B — Entry continues as long as supernormal profit exists (AR > LAC); when price falls to AR = LAC, only normal profit remains, so no incentive to enter.
Q8. The market price of a good in perfect competition is Rs 5 per unit. If a firm produces 100 units, its total revenue is:
Answer: A — TR = p × q = Rs 5 × 100 = Rs 500; total revenue depends only on price and quantity, not on costs or marginal cost.
Q9. A firm in perfect competition produces where MR = MC. At this output, AR = Rs 20 and AC = Rs 22. Which statement is correct? (A) The firm earns supernormal profit. (B) The firm incurs a loss of Rs 2 per unit. (C) The firm should shut down immediately. (D) The firm maximises profit if AR > AVC.
Answer: D — The firm is at the profit-maximising output (MR = MC), but earns a loss because AR < AC; it will continue only if AR ≥ AVC (covers variable costs); without knowing AVC, only statement D is safely correct.
Q10. Assertion: In perfect competition, a firm faces a perfectly elastic demand curve. Reason: The firm is a price-taker and can sell any quantity at the market price.
Answer: A — Both are true: the firm faces a horizontal demand curve (perfectly elastic) because as a price-taker it can sell any quantity at market price without lowering price.
What are the four defining features of perfect competition?
Large number of buyers and sellers, homogeneous product, free entry and exit, and perfect information about the market.
Why does a price-taking firm always set price equal to market price, not below it?
Because it can sell all the output it wants at market price, so there is no reason to lower price and reduce revenue.
In perfect competition, what is the relationship between AR, MR, and Price?
All three are equal and constant: AR = MR = P (the horizontal demand curve).
State the condition for a firm to maximise profit in the short run.
The firm maximises profit where MR = MC and MC is rising (or at shut-down if loss is minimised there).
What is the shut-down point for a firm?
The firm shuts down and exits the market when average revenue (price) falls below average variable cost (AR < AVC).
How does a firm earn supernormal profit in perfect competition?
When average revenue (market price) exceeds average cost at the profit-maximising output level (AR > AC).
What happens in long-run equilibrium in perfect competition?
Only normal profit is earned because entry of new firms increases supply, lowers price until AR = LAC, and supernormal profit disappears.
Why does the firm face a horizontal demand curve in perfect competition?
Because the market price is fixed and the firm can sell any quantity at that price, so demand is perfectly elastic.
What is the difference between short-run and long-run equilibrium for a firm?
Short-run equilibrium can involve supernormal or normal profit, but long-run equilibrium involves only normal profit as entry/exit restores competition.
If MR = MC but AR < AC, is the firm in equilibrium and profitable?
No; the firm is at profit-maximising output but is incurring a loss; it continues only if AR ≥ AVC, otherwise it shuts down.
Define 'price-taking behaviour' in perfect competition with one example. [2 marks]
Explain that a firm cannot influence price and must accept market price; if it raises price above market, it loses all buyers; example: a wheat farmer cannot set price higher than the market wheat price and expect to sell. Keep within 2–3 sentences.
A firm in perfect competition has the following data: Market Price = Rs 10, Output = 50 units, Total Cost = Rs 450. Calculate (i) Total Revenue, (ii) Average Cost, (iii) Profit/Loss. State whether the firm earns supernormal profit, normal profit, or loss. [5 marks]
Apply formulas: TR = p × q, AC = TC/q, Profit = TR − TC. Then compare AR (= p) with AC to classify profit type. Show all working.
Explain with the help of a diagram why a firm in perfect competition earns only normal profit in long-run equilibrium but supernormal profit in the short run. Discuss the role of free entry and exit. [6 marks]
Draw short-run (MR = MC with AR > AC) and long-run (AR = LAC at minimum) equilibrium diagrams. Explain: supernormal profit → new firms enter → supply increases → price falls → AR = LAC → normal profit only. Emphasize free entry/exit mechanism and excess capacity in long-run.
Q1. Assertion (A):
A perfectly competitive firm is a price taker and cannot sell above the market price.
Reason (R):
Because all firms produce homogeneous products and buyers have perfect information about market price, so any firm charging above market price loses all customers to competitors.
Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why the assertion is true. The logic is: homogeneous products + perfect information = buyers will switch to competitors if one firm charges more = firm cannot charge above market price. This is the foundational concept of price-taking behaviour in perfect competition.
Q2. Assertion (A):
In a perfectly competitive market, Average Revenue (AR) always equals Marginal Revenue (MR).
Reason (R):
Because both AR and MR decline as output increases due to diminishing marginal utility.
Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true — AR = MR = P in perfect competition. However, the reason is false. They are equal not because both decline, but because the market price is constant, making TR = p×Q (linear), so AR = p and MR = p. The reason incorrectly applies diminishing utility (a consumer concept) and incorrectly suggests AR and MR decline. The assertion is correct but the explanation is wrong.
Q3. Assertion (A):
Free entry and exit of firms in perfect competition leads to long-run normal profit only.
Reason (R):
Because entry of new firms when supernormal profits exist increases market supply, reduces price, and eliminates excess profits until AR = AC.
Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion. The mechanism is: supernormal profit → entry → supply increases → price falls → profit reduces to normal level (where AR = AC = P). This is the core explanation for why long-run equilibrium in perfect competition shows only normal profit.
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Case Study:
Laxmi Textiles operates in the highly competitive cotton cloth market in India where hundreds of small weavers compete. The market price for standard cotton cloth is Rs 200 per metre. Laxmi can sell any quantity at this price without needing to reduce price. If Laxmi raises its price to Rs 210 per metre, it sells nothing because buyers immediately purchase from other identical suppliers at Rs 200. Laxmi's cost of production per metre is: Fixed Cost = Rs 2,000 per day, Variable Cost = Rs 120 per metre. Currently, Laxmi produces 50 metres per day.
Q1. What is Laxmi Textiles' total revenue at current output of 50 metres?
Answer: A
Q2. Calculate Laxmi's average variable cost (AVC) at the current output level.
Answer: C
Q3. What is Laxmi's total profit or loss at 50 metres of output per day?
Answer: A
Q4. Which characteristic of perfect competition does Laxmi's inability to raise price above Rs 200 best illustrate?
Answer: D
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