Can students explain why nonprime competition is more likely under oligopoly conditions than is price competition?

Answer 1

In oligopoly markets, a few firms dominate, leading to interdependence in decision-making. Nonprice competition, such as product differentiation, advertising, and customer service, becomes more appealing as firms seek to gain market share without triggering price wars that could erode profits. Additionally, because firms often have similar cost structures and market power, they may prefer to compete on attributes other than price to maintain stable profit margins. Consequently, nonprice competition is more prevalent under oligopoly conditions than price competition.