Normal Profit: Perfect and Imperfect Competition
Market Structures · Micro
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MC
AC
D = AR = MR (perfect competition)
AR = D (imperfect competition)
MR (imperfect competition)
Demand, MR and MC are the same as in the other two diagrams, but average cost is higher. Price now equals AC at q₁, so total revenue just covers total cost, including the opportunity cost of the owners' capital and effort: the firm makes normal profit. In perfect competition this is at the minimum of AC. In imperfect competition AR just touches AC on its falling part.