Difference Between Perfect Competition vs. Oligopoly

Difference Between Perfect Competition and Oligopoly

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

FeaturesPerfect CompetitionOligopoly
Product Features
(Across Producers)
Identical
Non-Differentiated
Differentiated
Industry Entry & Exit BarriersVery Easy 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)
NoneHigh Market Power.
Can Influence The Price With Collaborative Manner.
Ability To Control The OutputNoneCan Influence The Output With Collaborative Manner.
Possibility To Earn Super Normal ProfitsNo PossibilityPossible
Individual Producer’s Market ShareVery LowHigh
Producer’s Possibility To Reach Economies of ScaleVery LowHigh
Perfect Competition vs Oligopoly
Perfect Competition vs Oligopoly
Perfect Competition vs Oligopoly

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

  1. Product Features of Perfect Competition is Identical (Non-Differentiated). But in an Oligopoly Product Features are Differentiated.
  2. Industry Entry & Exit Barriers are Low in Perfect Competition. But comparatively, there are High Barriers To Entry in Oligopoly (But Not Impossible to Enter).
  3. Industry Competition is high in Perfect Competition. But in Oligopoly Competitors Act in a Collaborative Manner (Mutually Interdependent).
  4. There are a Large Number of Producers (Sellers) in Perfect Competition. But comparatively, there are Few Large Producers in Oligopoly.
  5. There is no Market Power of an Individual Firm (Ability To Control The Price) in Perfect Competition. But comparatively, it is High in Oligopoly. Individual firms in Oligopoly can Influence The Price in a Collaborative Manner.
  6. There is no possibility of Earn Super Normal Profits in Perfect Competition. But it is Possible in Oligopoly.
  7. There is no ability to control the output in Perfect Competition. But it is Able in Oligopoly with Collaborative Manner.
  8. Individual Producer’s Market Share is low in Perfect Competition. But Comparatively, it is High in Oligopoly.
  9. There is a Very Low Individual Producer’s Possibility to Reach Economies of Scale in Perfect Competition But it is High in Oligopoly.

Read More:

Market Structures

Perfect Competition

Oligopoly Market

Monopolistic Competition

Monopoly Market

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