Answer:
C. the price is below the average variable cost curve.
Explanation:
In a perfectly competitive market, there are many buyers and sellers (price takers) of homogeneous products (standardized products with substitute) and the market is free (practically open) to all individuals or business entities that are willing to trade all their goods and services.
Hence, a perfectly competitive market is characterized by the following features;
1. Perfect information.
2. No barriers, it is typically free.
3. Equilibrium price and quantity.
4. Many buyers and sellers.
5. Homogeneous products.
Some examples of a perfectly competitive market are the Agricultural sector, e-commerce and the foreign exchange market.
A perfectly competitive firm shuts down in the short run when the price it is selling its goods (products) in the market is below the average variable cost curve.
This ultimately implies that, a business firm should only continue to be in operation when its price is above or greater than its average variable costs based on the shutdown rule.
