Markets, Perfect and Imperfect Markets, Monopoly, Oligopoly and Monopolistic Competition.
South African Context.
Notes:
Definition of a Market:
.
A market refers to the interaction between buyers and sellers of goods and services where
they engage in the exchange of products. It is not limited to a physical location but
encompasses the entire mechanism through which buyers and sellers interact to determine
prices and quantities of goods and services exchanged.
In South Africa, a market is where people come together to buy and sell goods and services.
This could be a local market, a shopping mall, or even online platforms like Gumtree or
Takealot.
Characteristics of a Market:
1. Buyers and Sellers:Markets involve both buyers, who demand goods and services, and
sellers, who supply them.
South African markets have people looking to buy things, like groceries or clothes, and
people wanting to sell, such as farmers or retailers.
2. Goods and Services:Markets deal with the exchange of tangible goods like electronics or
intangible services like healthcare.
These markets involve trading various items, from fresh produce at street markets to
professional services like plumbing or accounting.
3. Price Mechanism:Prices in a market are determined by the forces of demand and supply,
reflecting the scarcity and desirability of goods and services.
Prices in South African markets change based on demand and supply, affecting everything
from food prices at local markets to housing costs in real estate markets.
4. Competition:Markets can have varying degrees of competition, influencing pricing
strategies and consumer choices.
The degree of competition varies, with some sectors having many players competing
fiercely, like the mobile phone market, while others, like electricity distribution, have limited
competition.
5. Information Flow:Efficient markets rely on the availability of information regarding prices,
quality, and other relevant factors to facilitate decision-making for buyers and sellers.
Efficient markets in South Africa rely on clear information about prices and quality. This could
include price comparison websites for electronics or reviews for services like restaurants or
hotels.
Perfect and Imperfect Markets:
- Perfect Market: A perfect market is characterized by conditions such as perfect
competition, where numerous buyers and sellers exist, homogeneous products are traded,
South African Context.
Notes:
Definition of a Market:
.
A market refers to the interaction between buyers and sellers of goods and services where
they engage in the exchange of products. It is not limited to a physical location but
encompasses the entire mechanism through which buyers and sellers interact to determine
prices and quantities of goods and services exchanged.
In South Africa, a market is where people come together to buy and sell goods and services.
This could be a local market, a shopping mall, or even online platforms like Gumtree or
Takealot.
Characteristics of a Market:
1. Buyers and Sellers:Markets involve both buyers, who demand goods and services, and
sellers, who supply them.
South African markets have people looking to buy things, like groceries or clothes, and
people wanting to sell, such as farmers or retailers.
2. Goods and Services:Markets deal with the exchange of tangible goods like electronics or
intangible services like healthcare.
These markets involve trading various items, from fresh produce at street markets to
professional services like plumbing or accounting.
3. Price Mechanism:Prices in a market are determined by the forces of demand and supply,
reflecting the scarcity and desirability of goods and services.
Prices in South African markets change based on demand and supply, affecting everything
from food prices at local markets to housing costs in real estate markets.
4. Competition:Markets can have varying degrees of competition, influencing pricing
strategies and consumer choices.
The degree of competition varies, with some sectors having many players competing
fiercely, like the mobile phone market, while others, like electricity distribution, have limited
competition.
5. Information Flow:Efficient markets rely on the availability of information regarding prices,
quality, and other relevant factors to facilitate decision-making for buyers and sellers.
Efficient markets in South Africa rely on clear information about prices and quality. This could
include price comparison websites for electronics or reviews for services like restaurants or
hotels.
Perfect and Imperfect Markets:
- Perfect Market: A perfect market is characterized by conditions such as perfect
competition, where numerous buyers and sellers exist, homogeneous products are traded,
