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AP Microeconomics – Part 2: Imperfect Competition, Factor Markets & Market Failure( 30 Lectures)

AP Microeconomics – Part 2: Imperfect Competition, Factor Markets & Market Failure

Provider: GyanAcademy

📋 Quick Overview

  • Focus: Monopoly, Oligopoly, Game Theory, Labor Markets, Externalities, and AP Exam Prep.

  • Covers: Units 4, 5, and 6 of AP Microeconomics.

  • Target: Grades 11-12 | Prerequisite: Completion of Part 1.

  • Format: 30 Self-Paced HD Lectures (50 min each).

🎥 Module Breakdown

  • Module 1 (Imperfect Competition):

    • Monopoly: Revenue curves, profit max, deadweight loss, price discrimination.

    • Monopolistic Competition: Short-run vs. long-run equilibrium, excess capacity.

    • Oligopoly: Interdependence, collusion, cartels.

    • Game Theory: Payoff matrices, dominant strategy, Nash Equilibrium, Prisoner’s Dilemma.

  • Module 2 (Factor Markets):

    • Derived demand, Marginal Revenue Product (MRP), Marginal Resource Cost (MRC).

    • Profit-maximizing hiring rule: MRP = MRC.

    • Perfectly competitive labor markets (wage takers).

    • Monopsony (single buyer of labor) and its impact on wages and employment.

  • Module 3 (Market Failure & Government Role):

    • Externalities: Negative (pollution) and positive (education) – graphing and deadweight loss.

    • Government solutions: Pigouvian taxes, subsidies, tradable permits.

    • Public goods, private goods, and the free rider problem.

    • Common resources and the Tragedy of the Commons.

    • Income inequality: Lorenz Curve and Gini Coefficient.

  • Module 4 (Comprehensive Exam Prep):

    • Advanced FRQ strategies for complex graphs and game theory.

    • Full AP Mock Test: 60 MCQ + 3 FRQ (timed, simulated exam conditions).

    • Final review, answer walkthrough, and exam day strategies.

📦 What’s Included

  • 30 HD Video Lectures

  • 150+ Practice Questions & 4 Module Quizzes

  • 1 Full-Length AP Mock Test

  • Graphing Workbook (Imperfect Competition & Externality Graphs)

  • PDF Notes & Vocabulary Lists

  • Priority Doubt Support (24 hrs)

  • Certificate of Completion

📝 Key Outcomes

By the end, students will:

  • ✅ Master monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly graphs.

  • ✅ Apply game theory (Nash Equilibrium) to business decisions.

  • ✅ Analyze labor markets using MRP, MRC, and monopsony models.

  • ✅ Evaluate externalities and government intervention policies.

  • ✅ Be fully prepared for the AP Microeconomics exam.


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AP Microeconomics – Part 2: Imperfect Competition, Factor Markets & Market Failure

Complete Course Material | 30 Lectures (50 Minutes Each) | GyanAcademy


📋 Course Overview

Part 2 of the AP Microeconomics course focuses on market structures beyond perfect competition, the behavior of factor markets, and instances where markets fail to allocate resources efficiently. This section covers Unit 4 (Imperfect Competition), Unit 5 (Factor Markets), and Unit 6 (Market Failure & Government Role). It concludes with comprehensive exam preparation. Students will analyze monopoly power, game theory, labor demand, externalities, and public policy.
Duration: 30 Lectures (50 Minutes Each)
Prerequisites: Completion of AP Microeconomics Part 1 (Foundations, Markets & Production)
Outcome: Mastery of imperfect market structures, labor market dynamics, market failure analysis, and full readiness for the AP Exam.

📚 Detailed Lecture Breakdown

MODULE 1: Imperfect Competition (Lectures 1-10)

Lecture 1: Introduction to Imperfect Competition

  • Spectrum of market structures
  • Characteristics distinguishing imperfect from perfect competition
  • Market power and price setting ability
  • Overview of Monopoly, Monopolistic Competition, and Oligopoly
  • Takeaway: Understanding the continuum of market competitiveness.

Lecture 2: Monopoly: Characteristics & Barriers to Entry

  • Single seller, unique product, high barriers
  • Sources of barriers: Legal, Natural, Control of Resources
  • Comparison with Perfect Competition demand curves
  • Takeaway: Analyzing why monopolies exist and how they differ from competitive firms.

Lecture 3: Monopoly: Revenue & Profit Maximization

  • Downward sloping demand curve
  • Relationship between Price, Average Revenue, and Marginal Revenue
  • Profit maximization using MR = MC
  • Takeaway: Mastering the revenue structure and output decision for monopolies.

Lecture 4: Monopoly: Efficiency & Deadweight Loss

  • Allocative and Productive Inefficiency
  • Calculating Deadweight Loss
  • Comparison of surplus with Perfect Competition
  • Takeaway: Evaluating the welfare costs of monopoly power.

Lecture 5: Monopoly: Price Discrimination

  • Conditions for price discrimination
  • Perfect Price Discrimination vs. Segmenting
  • Impact on consumer surplus and deadweight loss
  • Real-world examples (Airlines, Student discounts)
  • Takeaway: Understanding how monopolies capture more surplus.

Lecture 6: Natural Monopoly & Regulation

  • Characteristics of natural monopolies (Economies of Scale)
  • Government regulation: Fair-return vs. Socially optimal pricing
  • Challenges of regulating natural monopolies
  • Takeaway: Analyzing policy responses to unavoidable monopolies.

Lecture 7: Monopolistic Competition: Characteristics

  • Many sellers, differentiated products, low barriers
  • Non-price competition (Advertising, Branding)
  • Short-run vs. Long-run equilibrium
  • Takeaway: Understanding markets with product differentiation.

Lecture 8: Monopolistic Competition: Graphical Analysis

  • Downward sloping demand for individual firms
  • Profit maximization in Short Run
  • Zero economic profit in Long Run (Entry/Exit)
  • Excess capacity theorem
  • Takeaway: Mastering the graphs for monopolistic competition.

Lecture 9: Oligopoly: Characteristics & Interdependence

  • Few sellers, identical or differentiated products, high barriers
  • Mutual interdependence and strategic behavior
  • Collusion and Cartels
  • Takeaway: Understanding markets dominated by a few large firms.

Lecture 10: Game Theory & Nash Equilibrium

  • Payoff matrices and dominant strategies
  • Nash Equilibrium identification
  • Prisoner’s Dilemma and collusion incentives
  • Takeaway: Applying game theory to oligopolistic decision-making.

MODULE 2: Factor Markets (Lectures 11-20)

Lecture 11: Introduction to Factor Markets

  • Derived demand for resources
  • Factors of production: Labor, Capital, Land
  • Profit maximization in hiring decisions
  • Takeaway: Understanding why firms demand resources.

Lecture 12: Marginal Revenue Product (MRP)

  • Definition and calculation (MP × MR)
  • MRP curve as the demand curve for labor
  • Diminishing marginal returns impact
  • Takeaway: Analyzing the value of an additional worker.

Lecture 13: Marginal Resource Cost (MRC)

  • Cost of hiring an additional unit of resource
  • Perfectly competitive labor market (MRC = Wage)
  • Profit maximizing hiring rule: MRP = MRC
  • Takeaway: Determining the optimal quantity of labor to hire.

Lecture 14: Perfectly Competitive Labor Market

  • Market demand and supply for labor
  • Equilibrium wage determination
  • Individual firm as a wage taker
  • Takeaway: Understanding wage setting in competitive labor markets.

Lecture 15: Shifts in Labor Demand & Supply

  • Determinants of Labor Demand (Product demand, Productivity, Prices of other resources)
  • Determinants of Labor Supply (Preferences, Income, Immigration)
  • Graphical analysis of shifts
  • Takeaway: Analyzing what causes wages and employment to change.

Lecture 16: Labor Market Equilibrium & Changes

  • Adjustments to equilibrium
  • Impact of minimum wage (Price Floor)
  • Surplus of labor (Unemployment)
  • Takeaway: Evaluating government intervention in labor markets.

Lecture 17: Monopsony Labor Markets

  • Single buyer of labor
  • Upward sloping labor supply curve
  • MRC lies above Supply curve
  • Takeaway: Understanding labor markets with employer power.

Lecture 18: Monopsony: Hiring & Wage Decision

  • Profit maximizing hiring rule (MRP = MRC)
  • Wage determination from Supply curve
  • Deadweight loss in monopsony
  • Takeaway: Analyzing employment and wage outcomes under monopsony.

Lecture 19: Labor Unions & Collective Bargaining

  • Goals of labor unions
  • Impact on wages and employment
  • Union vs. Non-union sectors
  • Takeaway: Evaluating the economic impact of organized labor.

Lecture 20: Module 2 Review & Quiz

  • Comprehensive review of Factor Markets
  • 15-question quiz (MCQs + Short Answer) with detailed solutions
  • Self-assessment guide and focus areas for continued study
  • Transition to Market Failure & Government Role
  • Takeaway: Ensuring mastery of labor market mechanics before studying market failure.

MODULE 3: Market Failure & Government Role (Lectures 21-27)

Lecture 21: Externalities: Negative Production

  • Definition and examples (Pollution)
  • Marginal Social Cost vs. Marginal Private Cost
  • Graphical analysis and Deadweight Loss
  • Takeaway: Understanding costs imposed on third parties.

Lecture 22: Externalities: Positive Consumption & Production

  • Examples (Education, Vaccines, R&D)
  • Marginal Social Benefit vs. Marginal Private Benefit
  • Graphical analysis and Deadweight Loss
  • Takeaway: Understanding benefits enjoyed by third parties.

Lecture 23: Government Solutions to Externalities

  • Taxes (Pigouvian) for negative externalities
  • Subsidies for positive externalities
  • Tradable permits and regulations
  • Takeaway: Evaluating policy tools to correct externalities.

Lecture 24: Public Goods & Private Goods

  • Excludable vs. Non-excludable
  • Rival vs. Non-rival
  • Four categories: Private, Public, Common, Club goods
  • Takeaway: Classifying goods based on consumption characteristics.

Lecture 25: The Free Rider Problem

  • Why private markets underprovide public goods
  • Government provision of public goods
  • Cost-benefit analysis challenges
  • Takeaway: Understanding the necessity of government intervention for public goods.

Lecture 26: Common Resources & Tragedy of the Commons

  • Overuse of non-excludable but rival resources
  • Examples: Fisheries, Clean Air, Public Grazing
  • Solutions: Property rights, quotas, taxes
  • Takeaway: Analyzing the depletion of shared resources.

Lecture 27: Income Distribution & Poverty

  • Lorenz Curve and Gini Coefficient
  • Measures of income inequality
  • Government policies for redistribution
  • Takeaway: Evaluating equity vs. efficiency in income distribution.

MODULE 4: Comprehensive Exam Preparation (Lectures 28-30)

Lecture 28: FRQ Strategies: Part 2

  • Tackling Imperfect Competition graphs
  • Game Theory matrix explanations
  • Externality correction graphs
  • Common pitfalls and point earning strategies
  • Takeaway: Mastering the free-response section for complex topics.

Lecture 29: Full AP Exam Mock Test

  • Simulated MCQ Section: 60 multiple-choice questions covering all 6 units
  • Simulated FRQ Section: 3 free-response questions (Long FRQ + 2 Short FRQs)
  • Exam conditions: Timed practice to build stamina and strategy
  • Answer key and scoring guidelines provided separately
  • Takeaway: Experiencing real exam conditions to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

Lecture 30: Final Review, Exam Strategies & Course Completion

  • Mock test solutions walkthrough and common error analysis
  • Final exam strategies: Graph labeling, Calculation showing, Terminology usage
  • Course wrap-up: Key themes across all 6 units
  • Final pep talk, certificate distribution, and next steps for college and beyond
  • Takeaway: Confidence, clarity, and readiness for exam day and lifelong learning.

📝 Part 2 Learning Outcomes

After completing Part 2, students will be able to:
Analyze Imperfect Competition (Monopoly, Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly)
Apply Game Theory to strategic decision making (Nash Equilibrium)
Evaluate Factor Markets (Labor Demand, MRP, MRC, Hiring Rules)
Understand Monopsony labor market dynamics
Assess Market Failure (Externalities, Public Goods, Common Resources)
Interpret Economic Data from graphs, tables, and policy scenarios
Execute AP Exam Strategies for MCQs and FRQs
Complete the Full 60-Lecture Microeconomics Journey

📦 What’s Included in Part 2

  • 🎥 30 HD Video Lectures (50 Minutes Each)
  • 📄 Lecture Notes PDF (Downloadable, concise summaries for review)
  • ✍️ Practice Problem Sets (150+ questions with detailed solutions)
  • 📊 Module Quizzes (4 quizzes with instant feedback)
  • 📝 1 Full Mock Test (Simulated AP Exam conditions)
  • 🎯 Graphing Workbook (Practice with Imperfect Competition & Externalities)
  • 📚 Vocabulary Lists (Key terms for each module)
  • 💬 Priority Doubt Support (Email/WhatsApp within 24 hours)
  • 📜 Certificate of Completion (Full Course)

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