Konkurencia

Konkurencija is a term used in several languages to denote competition in economics and everyday life. In economics, konkurencija describes the rivalry among buyers and sellers that drives prices, quality, and innovation.

In market analysis, economists distinguish forms of competition, including perfect competition (many firms, homogeneous products, price takers); monopolistic competition (many firms, differentiated products); oligopoly (a few large firms); and monopoly (one firm).

Competition policy aims to maintain contestable markets and prevent practices that distort rivalry. Tools include prohibiting cartels, preventing abuse of dominant position, and regulating mergers and acquisitions to preserve choice and efficiency. In the European Union, competition law is principally found in Articles 101 and 102 of the TFEU, with merger oversight under Regulation 139/2004; in the United States, antitrust enforcement relies on the Sherman Act and the Clayton Act.

Measurement and debate: concentration indices such as the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index assess market power; debates continue over dynamic efficiency, consumer welfare, and the regulation of digital platforms and network effects.

The term konkurencija is common in several languages—Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Slovenian, Lithuanian and others—sharing roots with the broader concept of competition in economic life. The historical development of competition policy spans from classical economists to modern antitrust authorities, shaping how markets allocate resources today.