A country's government enacts a new policy that significantly lowers barriers to entry for new businesses, leading to a sharp increase in the number of firms competing in the product market. Holding all else constant, what is the most likely immediate effect on the real wage and the price-setting curve?

Impact of Market Deregulation on Wages and Profits

A national government significantly reduces tariffs and quotas on imported goods, leading to a surge of foreign products entering the domestic market. A market analyst concludes that this policy will lead to a decrease in the real wage paid to domestic workers because firms will have to cut costs to compete. This conclusion is correct.

Mechanism of Competition's Effect on the Price-Setting Curve