Market Structure (CIE IGCSE Economics)

Topic Questions

11 mark

In some industries, a monopoly controls output and prices.

What is the most likely impact of this on consumers?

  • higher prices

  • higher profits

  • higher taxes

  • more choice

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21 mark

Which combination of characteristics correctly describes a monopoly?

  barriers to entry economies of scale
A
B
C
D
high
high
low
low
possible
impossible
possible
impossible

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31 mark

Which combination is usually found in a monopoly?

  • many buyers and many sellers

  • many buyers and single seller

  • single buyer and many sellers

  • single buyer and single seller

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41 mark

Which characteristic can exist both in monopoly and in a competitive market?

  • freedom of entry

  • many buyers

  • many sellers

  • perfectly elastic demand curve

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5
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1 mark

What is a key advantage of competitive markets for consumers?

  • Limited product variety and choices

  • Higher prices due to lack of competition

  • Lower prices and increased product variety

  • Reduced quality of goods and services

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11 mark

The table shows characteristics of a market.

What are the characteristics of a competitive market?

  product number
of buyers
number
of sellers
role
of firm

A

B

C

D

identical

identical

similar

unique

many

one

many

few

many

many

many

few

price taker

price maker

price taker

price maker

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2
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1 mark

What impact might an increase in the number of competitors have on a competitive market?

  • It could lead to higher prices for consumers

  • It might decrease demand for the product

  • It could enhance consumer choice and reduce prices

  • It might lead to lower product quality

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3
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1 mark

The table shows characteristics of a market.

What are the characteristics of a monopoly market?

 

Minimum market share

Barriers to entry Number
of sellers
Role
of firm

A

B

C

D

50%

25%

13%

25%

low

high

low

high

many

single

many

single

price taker

price maker

price taker

price taker

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4
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1 mark

What impact might a lack of competition have on innovation in a monopoly market?

  • It encourages firms to invest heavily in research and development

  • It leads to rapid innovation due to rivalry among competitors

  • It often leads to slower innovation and complacency

  • It results in constant product upgrades and improvements

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5
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1 mark

What benefit might a monopoly market offer in terms of economies of scale?

  • Limited opportunities for cost reduction

  • Reduced efficiency in production due to  the large scale

  • Higher production costs and prices for consumers

  • Cost reduction and better efficiency in production

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11 mark

What is found in a competitive market?

  • Every firm earns large profits.

  • Firms with limited capital can enter the market.

  • The costs of production are always lower than in a monopoly.

  • There is limited choice for consumers.

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21 mark

Why might a government encourage a monopoly?

  • It can compete against foreign firms.

  • It can have high average costs.

  • It can make excessive profits.

  • It can prevent innovation.

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31 mark

What is characteristic of a monopoly market structure?

  • A monopolist may determine the price of its product.

  • A monopolist’s product has many substitutes.

  • There are no external costs.

  • There is easy entry into the market.

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41 mark

Which international market is the most competitive?

  • diamonds

  • foreign currency

  • petrol (fuel)

  • washing machines

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1 mark

How do firms in competitive markets influence prices?

  • They can set prices at any level they prefer

  • They accept the market price as given

  • They collaborate to fix prices

  • They set prices based on production costs

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