When companies within the same industry work together to increase their mutual profits instead of exclusively competing with one another, it is known as an oligopoly. Oligopolies are observed ...

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and ...

Businesses don't operate in a bubble -- their sales and profitability are affected by the business environment in which they operate. Many factors affect this environment, from regulation and ...

Mary Hall is a editor for Investopedia's Advisor Insights, in addition to being the editor of several books and doctoral papers. Mary received her bachelor's in English from Kent State University with ...