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A kink in an otherwise linear demand curve. Note how marginal costs can fluctuate between MC1 and MC3 without the equilibrium quantity or price changing. The Kinked-Demand curve theory is an economic theory regarding oligopoly and monopolistic competition. Kinked demand was an initial attempt to explain sticky prices.
In order to distinguish themselves well, these firms can compete in price, but more often, oligopolistic firms engage in non-price competition because of their kinked demand curve. In the kinked demand curve model, the firm will maximize its profits at Q,P where the marginal revenue (MR) is equal to the marginal cost (MC) of the firm.
The graph below depicts the kinked demand curve hypothesis which was proposed by Paul Sweezy who was an American economist. [29] It is important to note that this graph is a simplistic example of a kinked demand curve. Kinked Demand Curve. Oligopolistic firms are believed to operate within the confines of the kinked demand function.
Firms face a kinked demand curve if, when one firm decreases its price, other firms are expected to follow suit to maintain sales. When one firm increases its price, its rivals are unlikely to follow, as they would lose the sales gains they would otherwise receive by holding prices at the previous level.
Technically, the price elasticity of demand is low (inelastic) at a price lower than the price point (steep section of the demand curve), and high (elastic) at a price higher than a price point (gently sloping part of the demand curve). Firms commonly set prices at existing price-points as a marketing strategy. [citation needed]
The cobweb model or cobweb theory is an economic model that explains why prices may be subjected to periodic fluctuations in certain types of markets.It describes cyclical supply and demand in a market where the amount produced must be chosen before prices are observed.
Marketing strategy refers to efforts undertaken by an organization to increase its sales and achieve competitive advantage. [1] In other words, it is the method of advertising a company's products to the public through an established plan through the meticulous planning and organization of ideas, data, and information.
The demand curve the oligopolist faces is that of two separate curves spliced together, creating a discontinuity in the MR curve. This means that a profit maximising firm will still produce at quantity Q and price P if marginal costs are equal to MC1, MC2 or MC3, thus explaining price stability.