Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
12th Edition
ISBN: 9780134078779
Author: Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 14, Problem 1.2P
To determine
Reason out why brand-name pharmaceutical manufacturers would want to enter into agreements using the five force model.
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A patent effectively allows a firm to operate as a monopoly while the patent is in effect. Some people argue that the market
power created by patents harms consumers and shouldn't be granted. Others argue that patents are needed to encourage
research and innovation. You can read the article from Forbes to learn more about the history and policy surrounding
patents.
Classify the arguments below as either arguments for patents or arguments against patents.
Arguments For Patents
Arguments Against Patents
Answer Bank
prevents free-riding
encourages higher prices for consumers
prevents competition in the market
research results in a positive externality for society
leads to an ineffient level of production
The three graphs below illustrate the market for electricity. The distribution of electricity is a natural monopoly; therefore, to take advantage of lower production costs, it is efficient to have only one firm in the market. Unfortunately, if a monopoly were allowed to provide electricity, it would charge a higher price and provide a smaller amount of electricity than would be desirable. In other words, the unregulated monopoly would charge the monopoly's profit-maximizing price. To avoid this, the government will allow a single firm to provide electricity, but the government will regulate the price. Let’s compare possible regulatory solutions.
Monopolists, unlike competitive firms, have some market power. A monopolist can increase price, within limits, without the quantity demanded falling
to zero. The main way it retains its market power is through barriers to entry-that is, other companies cannot enter the market to create competition
in that particular industry.
Complete the following table by indicating which barrier to entry appropriately explains why a monopoly exists in each scenario.
Barriers to Entry
Economies
of Scale
Scenario
In the natural gas industry, low average total costs are obtained only through
large-scale production. In other words, the initial cost of setting up all the
necessary pipes and hoses makes it risky and, most likely, unprofitable for
competitors to enter the market.
The Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) formerly controlled all U.S. sources of
bauxite, a key component in the production of aluminum. Given that Alcoa did not
sell bauxite to any other companies, Alcoa was a monopolist in the…
Chapter 14 Solutions
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
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- A monopoly, unlike a perfectly competitive firm, has some market power. Thus, it can raise its price, within limits, without quantity demanded falling to zero. The main way monopolies retain their market power is through barriers to entry, which prevent other companies from entering monopolized markets and competing for customers. Consider the market for taxi services. In order to own and operate a taxi, drivers are required to obtain a taxi medallion. Which of the following best explains the barriers to entry that exist in this scenario? Increasing returns to scale Control over an important input O Legal barriersarrow_forwardMonopolists, unlike competitive firms, have some market power. A monopolist can increase price, within limits, without the quantity demanded falling to zero. The main way it retains its market power is through barriers to entry-that is, other companies cannot enter the market to create competition in that particular industry. Complete the following table by indicating which barrier to entry appropriately explains why a monopoly exists in each scenario. Barriers to Entry Scenario During most of the 1900s, the De Beers Group of South Africa was viewed as a monopoly because it controlled a large percentage of diamond production and sales. In the natural gas industry, low average total costs are obtained only through large-scale production. In other words, the initial cost of setting up all the necessary pipes and hoses makes it risky and, most likely, unprofitable for competitors to enter the market. In an imaginary country, there is only one federally licensed lottery agency in any…arrow_forwardRefer to Diagram 2 above, which represents a monopolist firm, to answer the following questions. product = marginal product x selling price per unit). What quantity will this firm produce and what price will it charge? Suppose this monopolist firm becomes regulated and the regulatory agency wants to achieve economic efficiency. What price would the agency require the monopoly to charge and what quantity will the firm produce as a result? If the monopolist charges a price that will achieve economic efficiency, will the monopolist be making a profit or loss? Explain your answer with a calculation. Now suppose the government regulates the monopoly by imposing a price ceiling of $60. How many units will be produced? Will every customer who is willing to pay the ceiling price of $60 be able to buy the product? Explain why or why not. Based on the price ceiling of $60, what will be the profit of this monopolist?arrow_forward
- Briefly describe the Stackelberg model. How does this model differ from the Cournot model in terms of each firm's output and profits? How does the price in a Stackelberg model compare to the Cournot price and the monopoly price?arrow_forward1. Which of the following companies most closely resembles a monopoly? Walmart Microsoft Starbucks McDonald's Question Source: Chiang 4e - Economics Princip 39 36 近arrow_forwardYears ago, Callaway Golf patented its signature Big Bertha line of drivers. Today, the company spends a lot of money prosecuting individuals that try to sell knock off Big Bertha drivers to the public. What is the purpose of the patent, and why do companies like Callaway Golf fight those that try to imitate their products?arrow_forward
- Place the black point (plus symbol) on the following graph to indicate the profit-maximizing price and quantity for BYOB. If BYOB is making a profit, use the green rectangle (triangle symbols) to shade in the area representing its profit. On the other hand, if BYOB is suffering a loss, use the purple rectangle (diamond symbols) to shade in the area representing the loss. 4.00 3.50 Monopoly Outcome 3.00 2.50 Profit 2.00 АТC 1.50 Loss 1.00 0.50 MC MR 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 QUANTITY (Thousands of cans of beer) PRICE (Dollars per unit)arrow_forwardPlace the black point (plus symbol) on the following graph to indicate the profit-maximizing price and quantity for BYOB. If BYOB is making a profit, use the green rectangle (triangle symbols) to shade in the area representing its profit. On the other hand, if BYOB is suffering a loss, use the purple rectangle (diamond symbols) to shade in the area representing the loss. 4.00 3.50 Monopoly Outcome 3.00 2.50 Profit 2.00 1.50 Loss ATC 1.00 0.50 MC D MR 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 QUANTITY (Thousands of cans of beer) PRICE (Dollars per unit)arrow_forwardMonopoly and Price Elasticity Consider the relationship between monopoly pricing and the price elasticity of demand. If demand is inelastic and a monopolist raises its price, quantity would fall by a (LARGER AND SMALLER) percentage than the rise in price, causing profit to (DECREASE OR INCREASE) . Therefore, a monopolist will (ALWAYS, NEVER OR SOMETIMES) produce a quantity at which the demand curve is elastic. Use the purple segment (diamond symbols) to indicate the portion of the demand curve that is inelastic. (Hint: The answer is related to the marginal-revenue (MR) curve.) Then use the black point (plus symbol) to show the quantity and price that maximizes total revenue (TR).arrow_forward
- pic 1 : Many schemes for price discriminating involve some cost. For example, discount coupons take up the time and resources of both the buyer and the seller. This question considers the implications of costly price discrimination. To keep things simple, suppose that our monopolist's production costs are simply proportional to output, so that average total cost and marginal cost are constant and equal to each other. On the following graph, use the grey point (star symbol) to indicate the price and quantity that would emerge under a monopoly without price discrimination. Then use the purple point (diamond symbol) to shade the area corresponding to the monopolist's profit, and use the green point (triangle symbol) to shade the area corresponding to consumer surplus. Finally, use the black point (plus symbol) to shade the area corresponding to deadweight loss. Let the region representing monopolist's profit be called XX, consumer surplus YY, and deadweight loss ZZ. Suppose the…arrow_forwardThe diagram below illustrates the change in market equilibrium in the global oil market due to a demand shock, with the demand curve shifting from Demand to Demand'. Supply of oil is provided by OPEC countries, as part of a cartel agreement, and other countries outside the cartel, P. P. Demand Demand Quantity, Q Q Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct? global a) If more countries joined OPEC, and reduced the quantity of oil that they produced as a cartel, it is possible that market oil price could stay the same depending on other market dynamics. b) The price of oil in the global market is fixed by the members of the OPEC cartel. c) If there is increased production of oil in a non-OPEC country when demand is at Demand' there would be a reduction in price from P1, ceteris paribus.arrow_forwardConsider the relationship between monopoly pricing and the price elasticity of demand. If demand is inelastic and a monopolist raises its price, total revenue would (DECREASE OR INCREASE) and total cost would(DECREASE OR INCREASE) . Therefore, a monopolist will (SOMETIMES, ALWAYS, NEVER) produce a quantity at which the demand curve is inelastic. Use the purple segment (diamond symbols) to indicate the portion of the demand curve that is inelastic. (Hint: The answer is related to the marginal-revenue (MR) curve.) Then use the black point (plus symbol) to show the quantity and price that maximizes total revenue (TR).arrow_forward
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