Excess capacity characterizes firms in monopolistically competitive markets, even in situations of long-run equilibrium.

Excess Capacity

The situation where a firm produces less than its total output capacity, often due to lack of demand.

Monopolistically Competitive

A market structure where many firms sell products that are similar but not identical, allowing for some degree of market power and price setting.

Long-Run Equilibrium

A state in which all inputs can be adjusted by firms, market supply equals demand, and there is no incentive for economic actors to alter their behavior.