Q18Managerial Economics and Financial Accounting
Question
“A competitive firm is not a price maker, but adjustor.” Explain this statement with reference to price determination in long and short term under perfect competition.
Answer
In perfect competition, a firm is a 'price taker' (adjustor) because it is too small to influence the market price determined by industry demand and supply.
Short-run: The firm adjusts output where Price = Marginal Cost. Long-run: New firms enter or exit until Price = Minimum Average Cost, resulting in only normal profits.