Web Links

• p. 639: Follow the link http://subscribe.wsj.com/microexamples/oligopoly.html to Wall Street Journal articles about real-world examples involving oligopoly.

Issues and Applications Web Resources:

• Use the link http://www.ups.com/content/corp/about/history/index.html to learn more about how UPS ultimately broke down barriers to entry into the market for nationwide package deliveries.
• Find out about the horizontal merger that created FedEx Ground at http://www.fedex.com/us/about/today/history/?link=4#3.

Current Concentration Ratios in U.S. Manufacturing Industries
As you learned in this chapter, economists sometimes use concentration ratios to evaluate whether industries are oligopolies. In this application, you will make your own determination using the most recent data available.

     Title: Concentration Ratios in Manufacturing

     Navigation: Visit http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/concentration.html to get to the U.S. Census Bureau’s report on Concentration Ratios in Manufacturing.

Application

1. Select the report for the most recent year. Find the four-firm concentration ratios for the following industries: fluid milk (311511), women's and girl's cut & sew dresses (315233), envelopes (322232), electronic computers (334111).

2. Which industries are characterized by a high level of competition? Which industries are characterized by a low level of competition? Which industries qualify as oligopolies?

3. Name some of the firms that operate in the industries that qualify as oligopolies.