The effect of having a high number of firms on price, quality, choice, profit.
Classification of firms in terms of primary/secondary/tertiary sectors and private/public sector, and the relative size of firms. The advantages and disadvantages of small firms, the challenges facing small firms and reasons for their existence. Internal growth, for example increased market share. External growth, for example mergers. Examples, advantages and disadvantages of different types of mergers: horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate. How internal and external economies and diseconomies of scale can affect a firm/industry as the scale of production changes. Note: detailed knowledge of different types of structure of a firm is not required.