Rozwój teorii konkurencji w najważniejszych nurtach ekonomicznych

The article presents a way of looking at the issue of competition through particular schools of economics. Our main interest is in the process of competing and analysing how it is accomplished as a result of rivalry between entities for limited production factors. A chronological presentation of the most important accomplishments of economists allows for the links between their theories to be distinguished, and shows that each subsequent theory of competition, independently of its own innovative character, is connected to those that preceded it, thanks to which we may speak of the continuous evolution of competition theory. Properly defining the level of competition and the mutual position of market entities, taking into consideration extreme situations such as monopoly or unorganised laisser-faire conditions, is important equally for one’s own proper understanding of the process and for providing a foundation for the creation of a complex theory of competition adapted for a rapidly changing environment.