Markets and monopolies.

Whenever people who are willing to sell a commodity contact people willing to buy it, a market for that commodity is created. Buyers and sellers meet in person, or they may communicate by letter, by phone or through their agents. In a perfect market there can be only one price for a given commodity: the lowest price which sellers will accept and the highest which consumers will pay. Competition influences the prices prevailing in the market. Although in a perfect market competition is unrestricted and sellers are numerous, free competition and large numbers of sellers are not always available in the real world. In some markets there may only be one seller or a very limited number of sellers. Such a situation is called a "monopoly". It is possible to distinguish in practice four kinds of monopoly.

State planning and central control of the economy often mean that a state government has the monopoly of important goods and services. A different kind of monopoly arises when a country has control over major natural resources or important services. Such monopolies can be called natural monopolies. Legal monopolies occur when the law of a country permits certain producers, authors and in­ventors a full monopoly over the sale of their own products. These types of monopoly are distinct from the sole trading opportunities. This action is often called "cornering the market" and is illegal in many countries.

In the market systems, competition answers the basic questions of what, how, for whom, and how much. Competition among producers is for the highest profits. Compe­tition among consumers is for the best goods and services at the lowest prices.

In a market economy three basic resources - land, labour and capital - are bought and sold for the best price. Market for labour is constantly changing.

№6. Economic Growth.

If you spent all the money you have now, you might be able to buy many of the things you want. But you realise that by saving some now, you will save more for the future. Societies also must save some of what they produce today in order to have more for tomorrow. Every society must produce capital goods as well as consumer goods to meet future economic needs. Long-range economic growth depends on the continued production of capital goods (goods used to produce other items).

Everyone who works contributes to the growth of capital resources. Suppose you earn $72 a week. Your labour must be valuable enough to earn more than just the money to cover your wages. Your labour may earn your company $100 a week. Since you are paid $72, you are hel­ping the company to collect $28 a week. Some, or all, of this money can be used for ca­pital resources. Company can use this money to replace old tools and equipment for example. The manager may decide to replace the old tools, hire more help, or expand the shop.

In recent years, many people have argued that economic growth is a mixed bles­sing. The advantages of growth are fairly clear. As people produce more goods and services, the average standard of living goes up. Bat there is some disadvantages: (1) use of natural resources that cannot be replaced, (2) generation of waste products, (3) destruction of natural environments, (4) uneven growth among different groups in society.

In the past, growth has allowed poor people to improve their economic conditions. Nevertheless, continuing economic growth at the pace of today may permanently damage our world, polluting air, land, and waters, and using up natural resources. Growth, however, sometimes provides solution to the problems.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1284