PERFECT COMPETITION AND DEMAND: The demand curve for the output produced by a perfectly competitive firm is perfectly elastic at the going market price. The firm can sell all of the output that it wants at this price because it is a relatively small part of the market. As a price taker, the firm has no ability to charge a higher price and no reason to charge a lower one. The market price facing a perfectly competitive firm is also the firm's average revenue and, most importantly, its marginal revenue. See also | perfect competition | demand | perfectly elastic | price taker | market control | perfect competition and efficiency | perfect competition characteristics | perfect competition and short-run supply curve | monopoly and demand |
