Why do so many international markets tend towards oligopolist structure?

Definition of oligopoly - few and large firms with market power

• Basic assumptions of oligopoly
• Attraction of international markets for firms

a) Advantages of scale (LRAC diagram)

b) New markets - enhanced revenue/profits

c) spread of technology - firms will gain technological edge by merging or acquiring other firms

d) International firms will have access to foreign capital and lower cost factors of production

e) input from foreign markets can advantage the firm elsewhere, i.e. new tastes and preferences can permit the firm to transfer this knowledge to other markets