Mays and McCovey are beer-brewing companies that operate in a duopoly (two-firm oligopoly). The daily marginal cost (MC) of producing a can of beer is constant and equals $0.20 per can. Assume that neither firm had any startup costs, so marginal cost equals average total cost (ATC) for each firm. Suppose that Mays and McCovey form a cartel, and the firms divide the output evenly. (Note: This is only for convenience; nothing in this model requires that the two companies must equally share the output.)

ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
14th Edition
ISBN:9780190931919
Author:NEWNAN
Publisher:NEWNAN
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1QTC
icon
Related questions
Question

Note:-

  • Do not provide handwritten solution. Maintain accuracy and quality in your answer. Take care of plagiarism.
  • Answer completely.
  • You will get up vote for sure.
Mays and McCovey are beer-brewing companies that operate in a duopoly (two-firm
oligopoly). The daily marginal cost (MC) of producing a can of beer is constant and equals
$0.20 per can. Assume that neither firm had any startup costs, so marginal cost equals
average total cost (ATC) for each firm.
Suppose that Mays and McCovey form a cartel, and the firms divide the output evenly.
(Note: This is only for convenience; nothing in this model requires that the two
companies must equally share the output.)
Place the black point (plus symbol) on the following graph to indicate the profit-
maximizing price and combined quantity of output if Mays and McCovey choose to work
together.
PRICE (Dollars per can
1.00
0.00
0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0
Demand
MC ATC
0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400
QUANTITY (Thousands of cans of beer)
Monopoly Outcome
cans
When they act as a profit-maximizing cartel, each company will produce
and charge
per can. Given this information, each firm earns a daily profit of
, so the daily total industry profit in the beer market is
Oligopolists often behave noncooperatively and act in their own self-interest even though
this decreases total profit in the market. Again, assume the two companies form a cartel
and decide to work together. Both firms initially agree to produce half the quantity that
maximizes total industry profit. Now, suppose that Mays decides to break the collusion
and increase its output by 50%, while McCovey continues to produce the amount set
under the collusive agreement.
Mays's deviation from the collusive agreement causes the price of a can of beer to
per can. Mays's profit is now
to
is now
Therefore, you can conclude that total industry profit
Mays increases its output beyond the collusive quantity.
while McCovey's profit
when
Transcribed Image Text:Mays and McCovey are beer-brewing companies that operate in a duopoly (two-firm oligopoly). The daily marginal cost (MC) of producing a can of beer is constant and equals $0.20 per can. Assume that neither firm had any startup costs, so marginal cost equals average total cost (ATC) for each firm. Suppose that Mays and McCovey form a cartel, and the firms divide the output evenly. (Note: This is only for convenience; nothing in this model requires that the two companies must equally share the output.) Place the black point (plus symbol) on the following graph to indicate the profit- maximizing price and combined quantity of output if Mays and McCovey choose to work together. PRICE (Dollars per can 1.00 0.00 0.80 0.70 0.60 0.50 0.40 0.30 0.20 0.10 0 Demand MC ATC 0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 QUANTITY (Thousands of cans of beer) Monopoly Outcome cans When they act as a profit-maximizing cartel, each company will produce and charge per can. Given this information, each firm earns a daily profit of , so the daily total industry profit in the beer market is Oligopolists often behave noncooperatively and act in their own self-interest even though this decreases total profit in the market. Again, assume the two companies form a cartel and decide to work together. Both firms initially agree to produce half the quantity that maximizes total industry profit. Now, suppose that Mays decides to break the collusion and increase its output by 50%, while McCovey continues to produce the amount set under the collusive agreement. Mays's deviation from the collusive agreement causes the price of a can of beer to per can. Mays's profit is now to is now Therefore, you can conclude that total industry profit Mays increases its output beyond the collusive quantity. while McCovey's profit when
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps with 9 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Cartel
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Economics
ISBN:
9780190931919
Author:
NEWNAN
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134078779
Author:
Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:
PEARSON
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134870069
Author:
William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling
Publisher:
PEARSON
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:
9781337106665
Author:
Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Economics
ISBN:
9781259290619
Author:
Michael Baye, Jeff Prince
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education