Market structure
What Market structure means in Economics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Market structure
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Market structure in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: AQA
A way of defining oligopoly that focuses on a high concentration ratio where a few large firms dominate market supply, protected by high barriers to entry.
Determined by the minimum efficient scale: if very high relative to total market demand, the industry will likely be a natural monopoly or an oligopoly.
The organisation of a market, which technological change can influence and shift towards monopolistic competition, oligopoly or monopoly.
Topics that use Market structure
- Economies and diseconomies of scale (AQA A-Level)
- Oligopoly (AQA A-Level)
- Technological change (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Barriers to entry
- Dynamic efficiency
- Alienation
- Cartel
- Cartels
- Collusion
- Concentration ratio
- Concentration ratios
Using Market structure in the exam
Check the command word and mark scheme for your exact question. After comparing your explanation with the reference, use the term in an answer on the linked topic. This practice does not predict an exam mark.
Practise Economics questions
Create a free account to answer exam-style questions on this topic and get feedback on your answers.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge