PERFECT COMPETITION CHARACTERISTICS: The four key characteristics of perfect competition are: (1) large number of small firms, (2) identical products sold by all firms, (3) freedom of entry into and exit out of the industry, and (4) perfect knowledge of prices and technology. These four characteristics mean that a given perfectly competitive firm is unable to exert any control whatsoever over the market. See also | perfect competition | assumption | mobility | industry | firm | technology | market | price taker | price maker | substitute | resources | barrier to entry | perfect competition and demand | perfect competition and efficiency | perfect competition and short-run supply curve | monopoly | monopolistic competition | oligopoly |