Difference Between Monopolistic Competition vs. Oligopoly

Difference Between Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly

Differences between Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly are explained in the below table,

FeaturesMonopolistic CompetitionOligopoly
Product Features
(Across Producers)
Highly Substitutable
Highly Similar
But Not Identical
Differentiated
Industry Entry & Exit BarriersEasy Industry Entry & ExitHigh Barriers To Entry
But Not Impossible
Industry CompetitionHighCompetitors Act In A Collaborative Manner (Mutually Interdependent)
Number Of Producers (Sellers)Large No Of ProducersFew Large Producers
Market Power Of Individual Firm
(Ability To Control The Price)
Has Low Control Over PriceHigh Market Power.
Can Influence The Price With Collaborative Manner.
Ability To Control The OutputHas Low Control Over OutputCan Influence The Output With Collaborative Manner.
Possibility To Earn Super Normal ProfitsLow PossibilityPossible
Individual Producer’s Market ShareLowHigh
Producer’s Possibility To Reach Economies of ScaleLowHigh
Monopolistic Competition vs Oligopoly
Monopolistic Competition vs Oligopoly
Monopolistic Competition vs Oligopoly

Differences between Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly are explained in the below points,

  1. Product Features of Monopolistic Competition are Highly Substitutablem Highly Similar, But Not Identical. But in an Oligopoly Product Features are Differentiated.
  2. Industry Entry & Exit Barriers are Easy in Monopolistic Competition. But comparatively, there are High Barriers To Entry in Oligopoly (But Not Impossible to Enter).
  3. Industry Competition is High in Monopolistic Competition. But in Oligopoly Competitors Act in a Collaborative Manner (Mutually Interdependent).
  4. There are a Large Number of Producers (Sellers) in Monopolistic Competition. But comparatively, there are Few Large Producers in Oligopoly.
  5. There is Low Market Power of an Individual Firm (Low Ability To Control The Price) in Monopolistic Competition. But comparatively, it is High in Oligopoly. Individual firms in Oligopoly can Collaboratively influence The Price.
  6. There is a Low Possibility of Earning Super Normal Profits in Monopolistic Competition. But it is Possible in Oligopoly.
  7. There is a Low Ability for a Firm to Control the Output in Monopolistic Competition. But it is Able in Oligopoly with Collaborative Manner.
  8. Individual Producer’s Market Share is Low in Monopolistic Competition. But Comparatively, it is High in Oligopoly.
  9. There is a Low Individual Producer’s Possibility of Reach Economies of Scale in Monopolistic Competition. But it is High in Oligopoly.

Read More:

Market Structures

Monopolistic Competition

Oligopoly Market

Perfect Competition

Monopoly Market

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