Relationship of Innovation and Monopoly - Assignment Example

The paper "Relationship of Innovation and Monopoly" is a wonderful example of an assignment on macro and microeconomics. There is a positive relationship between innovation and monopoly power with concomitant abnormal profits. These hypotheses can be proved by the use of various ways in which monopoly power takes place in the market place using economic analysis. Innovation is actually the invention of new ideas and knowledge that are usually meant to satisfy a particular need and will be paid by the consumers.

Those who carry out the inventions are usually considered to be unique in society and will benefit from them as they almost have no competition or kicks out an older means rendering them effective. Such is the case in companies and will lead to a monopoly in two ways (Stackelberg, Heinrich, Damien, Lynn and Rowland,2011)First, the company which innovates a particular idea usually keeps the information to themselves and acquires protection by use of government or per tent rights in the use of the service.

This makes other firms not provide the product leaving the inventor to be the sole provider in the market. This creates a natural monopoly in different industries resulting in abnormal profits.Second, by innovating means the owner will have to sell more of particular units in the market because even if the competition was to come in, it will take time. This simply implies innovation cannot happen in a single day, the existing firms will take time since they have to conduct research and development before they can rival the inventor.

This makes the firm to produce more leading to more profits (Stackelberg, Heinrich, Damien, Lynn and Rowland, 2011). The firm, however, invests again the excess profits on how to control the market leading to monopolies over time. Thus Schumpeter hypothesis of a positive relationship between innovation and monopoly is true and should be accepted.Question 1b)Large firms are more innovative than small firms?In an industry, there is always large firms and small firms. Large firms are those usually considered to be firms with a high number of workers, has invested more in modern technology and are relatively stable in economic fluctuations.

Small firms, however, do have a small number of employees and are easily affected by an economic crisis such as inflation.Large firms do have high profits margin. Thus they can hire more qualified workers and invest extensively in modern technologies to produce at ease. Their excess income can also be invested in research and development that makes them be more innovative in the market. This makes them have more comparative advantage than the small firms in innovation. However, in major markets and industries, small firms should be more creative than large firms.

This is because they are competing with already established firms in the market hence will tend to spend more on research and development to narrow the gap between them or if they have to acquire a substantial share in the market. Again large firms will merely innovate to keep the market trends but the rate at which they will innovate is less proportionate to the small firms who must find their ways into the market.Thus, the hypothesis of large firms being more innovative than small firms is debatable and would not apply to major industries in the economy.

Question 2Characteristics of the firm are key to a particular industry and the investment in innovation. Where the firms are operating in a competitive market, they cannot influence market prices since the demand and supply are usually determined by the market conditions. Demand is usually sensitive to prices and companies would compete in output rather than prices. The firms thus would be internally innovative on how to reduce their costs of productions so that they can produce more units into the market if they are to make profits.

They will also have to find ways on how to produce more quality goods than the rival firms if they are to have more demand of their products (Stackelberg, Heinrich, Damien, Lynn and Rowland,2011) However, this cannot be said to those firms operating in monopoly market since they dictate market prices and quantity. They do not have to worry much about innovations since they are assured of the market.Nevertheless, all firms will always take advantages of new technology that could help them in their production activities.

New inventions will always be more efficient, speeds work and reduces the cost of operations. This makes them produce more leading to high sales that maximize profits (Norman, George, Jacques, and Louis, 2000). They see this as the only way to provide a competitive production measure and they must adopt them. Those industries or a company who does not stand a chance t be less competitive in the market.