What typically characterizes a monopolistic competition in terms of products offered?

Monopolistic competition is characterized by a market structure where numerous firms compete with products that are similar but not identical. This means that while each firm offers products that serve a similar purpose, there are differentiating features such as branding, quality, or unique characteristics that make each product distinct in some way. This differentiation allows firms to have some degree of market power, enabling them to charge prices slightly above marginal cost without losing all their customers to competitors.

In this context, a market with products that are entirely differentiated would suggest that each firm operates in isolation, which is not reflective of the competitive nature of monopolistic competition. Similarly, identical products indicate perfect competition, where no single firm can set prices above market level due to the uniformity of offerings. Therefore, the characterization of products as similar but not identical aligns perfectly with the essence of monopolistic competition, where firms compete on both price and differentiated product features.