Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-hill Series Economics)
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-hill Series Economics)
9th Edition
ISBN: 9781259290619
Author: Michael Baye, Jeff Prince
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Question
Book Icon
Chapter 13, Problem 7CACQ

(a)

To determine

To find the reason for less marginal cost of firm 1.

(a)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

Firm 1 is an old firm which is operating from last 1 year in industry. It is operating at economies of scale. So, its marginal cost would be lower than the new firm.

(b)

To determine

To analyze current profit of two firms.

(b)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

Industry’s inverse demand function is given as:

  P=205Q

Market price is $15. At equilibrium level of market, P = MC

  15=205Q5Q=5Q=1

The market equilibrium quantity is 1 million. Each has 50% of the market share. Hence, each firm is producing 0.5 million.

For firm 1:

Total revenue can be calculated as:

  TR=P×Q=15×0.5=$7.5million

Total cost is the summation of variable cost and fixed cost. Fixed cost is $2 million. Variable cost can be calculated as:

  TVC=MC×Q=2×0.5=$1million

Total cost is:

  TC=TFC+TVC=2+1=$3million

  Profit=TRTC=7.53=$4.5million

For firm 2,

Total revenue can be calculated as:

  TR=P×Q=15×0.5=$7.5million

Total cost is the summation of variable cost and fixed cost. Fixed cost is $2 million. Variable cost can be calculated as:

  TVC=MC×Q=10×0.5=$5million

Total cost is:

  TC=TFC+TVC=2+5=$7million

  Profit=TRTC=7.57=$0.5million

(c)

To determine

To analyze the effect of decrease in price by firm 1.

(c)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

When firm 1 decreases the price to $10, he captures whole market share.

Industry’s inverse demand function is given as:

  P=205Q

For firm 1,

Price is charged $10. At equilibrium level of market, P = MC

  10=205Q5Q=10Q=2

The equilibrium quantity for firm 1 is 2 million.

Total revenue can be calculated as:

  TR=P×Q=10×2=$20million

Total cost is the summation of variable cost and fixed cost. Fixed cost is $2 million. Variable cost can be calculated as:

  TVC=MC×Q=2×2=$4million

Total cost is:

  TC=TFC+TVC=2+4=$6million

  Profit=TRTC=206=$14million

Firm 2:

Firm 2 loses its entire market share as it charges $15.

Total revenue can be calculated as:

  TR=P×Q=15×0=0

Total cost is the summation of variable cost and fixed cost. Fixed cost is $2 million. Variable cost can be calculated as:

  TVC=MC×Q=2×0=0

Total cost is:

  TC=TFC+TVC=2+0=$2million

  Profit=TRTC=02=$-2million

Hence, firm 2 is incurring a loss of $2 million.

(d)

To determine

To analyze whether the firm 1 has incentive to raise price after the exit of firm 2 from the market.

(d)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

When the firm 2 exits the market, firm 1 is the sole producer. It has monopoly in the market. Hence, it can exploit consumers by charging higher prices.

(e)

To determine

To analyze whether the firm 1 is engaged in predatory pricing.

(e)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

Predatory pricing is the act of pricing products or services so low that other competitors are not able to compete and are forced to leave the market.

The marginal cost of firm 2 is $10. When the price was $15, both the firms were earning extra normal profits. When the firm 1 lowers its price to $10, the firm 2 can also lower its price in order to capture the equal market share. In this manner, its price would be equal to the MC. He would be on equilibrium.

Hence, the firm 1 has not done predatory pricing. Firm 2 can compete with firm 1 till $10 because the MC of firm 2 is $10.

When the firm 1 lowers the price below 10, then it would be called predatory pricing.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
Richard has just opened a new restaurant. Not being good at deserts, he has contracted with Carla to provide pies. Carla’s costs are $10 per pie, and she sells the pies to Richard for $25 each. Richard resells them for $50, and he incurs no costs other than the $25 he pays Carla. Assume Carla’s costs go up to $30 per pie. If courts always award expectation damages, which of the following statements is most likely to be true?
Difference-in-Difference In the beginning of 2001, North Dakota legalized fireworks. Suppose you are interested in studying the effect of the legalizing of fireworks on the number of house fires in North Dakota. Unlike North Dakota, South Dakota did not legalize fireworks and continued to ban them. You decide to use a Difference-in-difference (DID) Model. The numbers of house fires in each state at the end of 2000 and 2001 are as follows: Number of house fires in Number of house fires in Year North Dakota 2000 2001 35 50 South Dakota 54 64 a. What is the change in the outcome for the treatment group between 2000 and 2001? Show your working for full credit. (10 points) b. Can we interpret the change in the outcome for the treatment group between 2000 and 2001 as the causal effect of legalizing fireworks on number of house fires? Explain your answer. (10 points)
C. Regression Discontinuity Birth weight is used as a common sign for a newborn's health. In the United States, if a baby has a birthweight below 1500 grams, the newborn is classified as having “very low birth weight". Suppose you want to study the effect of having very low birth weight on the number of hospital visits made before the baby's first birthday. You decide to use Regression Discontinuity to answer this question. The graph below shows the RD model: Number of hospital visits made before baby's first birthday 5 1400 1450 1500 1550 1600 Birthweight (in grams) a. What is the running variable? (5 points) b. What is the cutoff? (5 points) T What is the discontinuity in the graph and how do you interpret it? (10 points)
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Microeconomic Theory
Economics
ISBN:9781337517942
Author:NICHOLSON
Publisher:Cengage
Text book image
Managerial Economics: Applications, Strategies an...
Economics
ISBN:9781305506381
Author:James R. McGuigan, R. Charles Moyer, Frederick H.deB. Harris
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:9781337106665
Author:Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Survey Of Economics
Economics
ISBN:9781337111522
Author:Tucker, Irvin B.
Publisher:Cengage,
Text book image
Economics For Today
Economics
ISBN:9781337613040
Author:Tucker
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Micro Economics For Today
Economics
ISBN:9781337613064
Author:Tucker, Irvin B.
Publisher:Cengage,