The elasticity of demand or revenue curve in different Markets

The elasticity of the Demand or Revenue curve in different markets shows different slopes. As a result, the respective degree of elasticity of demand also varies with the variable market situations.

The elasticity of Revenue Curve in Different Markets:

Firstly, To understand the behaviour of the revenue curve in different market situations, the market can be classified as:

1. Perfectly Competitive Market
2. Monopoly Market
3. Monopolistic Competitive Market

As we know the revenue curves are different in different markets which can be overseen as:

1. Perfectly Competitive Market:

Revenue curve under perfect competition for a firm is represented by a straight line parallel to the X-axis showing output. The average revenue or price and MR remain constant for the firm.

Under perfect competition or Perfectly competitive market, the firm is a price taker. It cannot change the market price as it has to sell its products at the price prevailing in the market. If a firm tries to sell its products at a price above the market price, it can lose its customers in the market. It is because there would be other firms in the market which sell the same products at the price prevailing in the market or at a lower price than the firm’s price.

Therefore, under perfect competition, the firm has to accept the price prevailing in the market-determined by market forces such as demand and supply. Hence, it means that the average revenue or the price would remain constant for the firm. Furthermore, constant AR implies constant MR. Thus, it means that under perfect competition, AR=MR=Price. 

To read in detail, check out:

Revenue curve under Perfect Competition

2. Monopoly Market :

Average and Marginal Revenue curve under Monopoly for a firm is represented by the downward sloping curves but in this case, MR< AR.

Under Monopoly market, there is a single seller in the market. Thus, a monopolist is a price maker. It implies that if a monopolist firm wants to sell more in the market, it can reduce the price of the product. Under this type of market, the firm’s average revenue curve slopes downward from left to right. Being a single seller of the product in the market, the monopolist can fix the price whatever he wishes to. But, he can sell more of his products only at less price. Thus, there is a negative relationship between the demand for a product and its price in the monopoly market. Accordingly, the firm’s AR curve or demand curve or price line slopes downward. Also, if the AR curve slopes downward, the MR curve slopes, and faster than the AR curve. So that MR<AR.

To read in detail, check out:

Revenue Curve under Monopoly Market

3. Monopolistic Market:

Average and Marginal Revenue curve under Monopolistic competition for a firm is represented by the downward sloping curves but in this case, MR< AR. The basic difference between Monopoly and Monopolistic competition is that the AR curve under monopolistic competition is more elastic.

Under Monopolistic competition, the market involves features of both perfect competition and monopoly.  It is more common than in the other two markets. Furthermore, in this type of market, there are a large number of sellers having products with some differentiation to create a monopoly in the market. As a result, there wouldn’t be more close substitute and competitive product in the market. It implies that if a monopolist firm wants to sell more in the market, it can reduce the price of the product. Under this type of market, the firm’s average revenue curve slopes downward from left to right.

Being a single seller of the differentiated product in the market, the monopolist can fix the price whatever he wishes to. But, he can sell more of his products only at less price. Thus, there is a negative relationship between the demand for a product and its price in the monopoly market. Accordingly, the firm’s AR curve or demand curve or price line slopes downward. As there is a lack of close substitute for monopoly product and availability of close substitute for a monopolistic firm. Therefore, the AR curve is more elastic than in Monopoly.  Also, if the AR curve slopes downward, the MR curve also slopes downward, and faster than the AR curve. So that MR<AR.

To read in detail, check out:

Revenue Curve under Monopolistic Competition

Representation of elasticity of revenue or demand curve in different markets:

The following graph shows the graphical representation of the revenue curve or demand curve in different market situations and the degree of elasticity of demand:

In fig, X-axis shows the output and Y-axis shows the revenue. D_P, D_MC and D_M are the demand or revenue curve of Perfect competition, Monopolistic competition and Monopoly.

Following are the observations regarding the elasticity of the demand curve obtained  from the graph:

1.  D_p is the revenue or demand curve under perfect competition. It is perfectly elastic. Thus, it means that the elasticity of demand for the firm’s product is ∝. Furthermore, the firm can sell any quantity at the prevailing price and no quantity if there is an increase in the price. It is due to the availability of close substitutes to the firm’s product in the market.
2. D_M is the revenue or demand curve under monopoly. Here, It shows a low elasticity of demand. It is due to the absence of close substitutes in the market to the firm’s product.
3. D_MC is the demand or revenue curve under Monopolistic competition. Here, It shows high elasticity of demand. It is due to the availability of a large number of substitutes of the firm’s product in the market.