Monopól

Monopól is a term used in economics to denote a monopoly, a market structure in which a single seller dominates the supply of a particular good or service. In a monopól, there are few or no close substitutes, and entry by new firms is heavily restricted by barriers such as high capital requirements, control of essential resources, legal exclusivity, or network effects. As the sole producer, the monopolist typically behaves as a price maker, setting the price and output to maximize profit rather than to reflect competitive pressures.

Key consequences include higher prices and restricted output relative to a competitive market, which can lead to a deadweight loss. The extent of inefficiency and consumer harm depends on the degree of market power and the possibility of regulation or intervention.

Monopól can arise in several forms. A natural monopoly occurs when a single firm can supply the entire market at lower cost due to substantial fixed costs and economies of scale. Legal or statutory monopolies arise from government grants or patents. Geographic monopolies occur when competition is impractical in a region.

Regulation is a common policy response. Antitrust or competition laws aim to prevent abuse of market power, break up or constrain firms, or impose price controls or network access requirements, especially in essential utilities or infrastructure.

Historical examples include regulated natural monopolies in utilities and antitrust actions against large firms such as Standard Oil and AT&T. Understanding monopól helps explain why many economies promote competition and limit exclusive control over markets.