What Are Market Dynamics?

Market dynamics represent signals in an item’s price that indicate a change has occurred or will occur at some time in the future. This represents a portion of the classical economic theory that relates to supply and demand, which is the basic tool for price determination. Different forces may make up the market dynamics for a good or service, such as available resources, consumer demand, ability to process resources into usable goods, and many others. In an open or free market, there is no one dynamic or set of dynamics that will ultimately set the price of an item. Buyers and sellers are the only groups that can determine the final price of an item as they must settle on a price for exchanging goods and services.

Free market economies do not allow or require heavy interaction with a single entity to control the market dynamics. The ability for buyers and sellers to come together and set the price for goods and services gives ultimate freedom to individuals. This freedom also allows individuals to not engage in any market activity. The other option to spending money is saving it; individuals may then be able to purchase more products, or better-quality products, or simply invest money in financially rewarding activities. Each of these options is the result of a free market with multiple market dynamics.

As individuals are a major part of any free market, there is no way for a single entity or individual to completely alter the market. For example, market dynamics allow a company to produce a large number of high-quality widgets. While the consumer price for these widgets may be the cost plus a small profit margin, this does not mean the company selling the items controls the widget industry. Customers are necessary as they must purchase the widgets and reward the company for producing widgets. A competitor who, however, can produce cheaper widgets at a relatively similar quality, shifting the industry dynamics in this small portion of the market.

Supply and demand shifts also present companies with opportunities to leverage market dynamics to their favor. For example, as a single market begins to grow and demand for products increases, a company may enter the market and begin selling these goods. Alternatively, a company in a market that has reached a peak may be able to leave for a more profitable one. These movements are all driven by the price a company may charge or receive for goods. Higher prices typically lead to greater profits and shifts in market dynamics.