This article is about the state of a player in economics. For the Parker Brothers board game see Monopoly (game).

In economics, a monopoly (from the Latin word monoplium - Greek language monos, one + polein, to sell) is defined as a persistent market situation where there is only one provider of a kind of product or service. Monopolies are characterized by a lack of economic competition for the good or service that they provide and a lack of viable substitute goods.

Monopoly should be distinguished from monopsony, in which there is only one buyer of the product or service; it should also, strictly, be distinguished from the (similar) phenomenon of a cartel. In a monopoly a single firm is the sole provider of a product or service; in a cartel a centralized institution is set up to partially coordinate the actions of several independent providers (which is a form of oligopoly).

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Economic news - CNNMoney.com

No job turnaround on horizon
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:31:20 -0400
Economists expect another weak job report when the government releases its August employment figures Friday. But many also are predicting job losses to continue well into 2009 as well.
Why the Fed cuts haven't worked
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:17:44 -0400
It's been almost a year since the Federal Reserve issued the first of what turned out to be seven rate cuts to deal with the credit crisis.
Big Three bailout may be around corner
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:07:45 -0400
Plunging auto sales, high gas prices and election year politics could help convince Congress to approve a $50 billion loan package to embattled U.S. automakers that Detroit's Big Three claim is key to their future success.

Latest Business News from Times Online

Fresh credit worries slam euro and the pound
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:28:24 -0000
The euro and sterling fell heavily against the dollar today on fresh fears that collapsing credit markets are thrusting Europe headlong into recession.
Car sales crash as economy hits skids
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0000
Car sales fell to their lowest level for more than 40 years last month in the most dramatic sign yet that the country is heading into a recession.
Fall in house prices accelerates but Bank of England leaves rates on hold
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0000
Homeowners were given assurances but no immediate relief yesterday as house prices fell at the fastest rate in a quarter of a century and the Bank of England decided against cutting the interest rate.
Go-Ahead profits climb 20% on rail boom
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:37:02 -0000
Go-Ahead, the rail and bus operator, has seen pre-tax profits climb by a fifth as credit crunch-hit commuters opt increasingly for public transport.
Paul Polman named as new Unilever chief executive
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:30 -0000
A former top executive of Procter & Gamble and Nestlé will take the helm at Unilever, bringing to an end almost a century of groomed internal inheritance in the Anglo-Dutch food and soap multinational group.
Breakdowns spark National Grid crisis in power supply
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0000
The crumbling state of Britain’s electricity network was exposed yesterday when power station breakdowns caused the first energy shortage of the autumn.

NYSE.com Financial News Releases

NYSE Euronext to Issue Third-Quarter 2008 Financial Results and Conduct Conference Call on October 31, 2008
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0400

NYSE Euronext Business Summary for July 2008
Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0400

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