ECON 208 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Profit Maximization, Marginal Product, Technological Change

4. A firm's short-run production function describes how the

A. Maximum possible output varies as the quantity of labor hired varies in a given factory.

B. Minimum possible output varies as the quanity of labor hired varies in given factory.

C. Maximum possible output varies as a firm enlarges the size of its factory.

D. Minimum possible output varies as a firm enlarges the size of its factory.

5. For U.S. Steel, the total product curve represents the

A. maximum amount of steel attinable for each quanity of variable input hired.

B. Minimum amount of Steel attinable for each quanity of variable input hired.

C. Lowest cost of producing various amounts of steel.

D. Maximum profit when producing and selling various amounts of steel.

6. Kaiser Aluminums total product Curve will shift upward if the firm

A. Hires additonal quanities of labor and materials.

B. Pays lower wages to accuire additonal workers.

C. employs more efficient technologies in aluminum production

D. Initiates work rules leading to falling productivity of labor.

7. Margianl cost is defined as

A. total fixed costs plus total variable cost.

B. Total cost divided bt the level of output.

C. The increase in total cost as a frim produces an additonal unit of output.

D. Total cost minus total fixed cost.

8. The range over which marginal cost is decreasing is the same range over which

A. Total product is Increasing.

B. Marginal product is Increasing.

C. Total cost is increasing at an increasing rate.

D.total cost is decreasing.

9. General motors will realize diseconomics of scale if an increase in plant size causes.

A. A decrease in a long-run average total cost.

B. An increase in long-run average cost.

C. The short -run total product curve to shift upward.

D. The short-run total product curve to remain constant.

10. For Boeing, thechnological advances in the production of jetliners will tend to shift the total product and marginal product curves

A. Downward, and total cost and marginal cost curves upward.

B. Upward, and total cost and marginal cost curves downward.

C. Upward, and no change in total cost and marginal cost curves.

D. Downward, and no change in total cost and margial cost curves.

Question 1 (1 point) Question 1 Unsaved In a competitive market the equilibrium price is determined: Question 1 options: at the intersection of the firm’s demand and the market supply curves. at the intersection of the market demand and supply curves. at the intersection of the firm’s demand and marginal cost curves. so as to cover the costs of the potential firms. so as to cover the costs of the firms currently in the industry. Save Question 2 (1 point) Question 2 Unsaved If the perfectly competitive market demand for gym shoes is given by QD = 100 – P and the market supply is given by QS = 10 + 2P, then the equilibrium price and quantity will be: Question 2 options: P = 50 and Q = 50. P = 40 and Q = 90. P = 40 and Q = 60. P = 30 and Q = 70. P = 25 and Q = 75. Save Question 3 (1 point) Question 3 Unsaved A constant-cost industry is one in which: Question 3 options: input prices do not change over time. technology does not change over time. input prices and technology do not change as firms enter or exit the industry. input prices and technology do not change over time. firms have reached the maturity phase of the industry’s life cycle. Save Question 4 (1 point) Question 4 Unsaved At the profit-maximizing level of output for the monopolist: Question 4 options: total revenue is equal to total cost. total costs are minimized. total revenue is maximized. marginal revenue is equal to marginal cost. average revenue is equal to average cost. Save Question 5 (1 point) Question 5 Unsaved Craig’s Red Sea Restaurant is the only restaurant in Columbia, South Carolina, that sells Ethiopian food. The demand for Ethiopian food is given by Q = 25 – P. Craig’s costs are given by TC = 25 + Q + 5Q2. Its maximum monopoly profit is: Question 5 options: –$1. $21. $22. $24. $26. Save Question 6 (1 point) Question 6 Unsaved So long as price exceeds average variable cost, in the model of monopolistic competition, a firm maximizes profits by producing where: Question 6 options: the difference between marginal revenue and marginal cost is maximized. marginal cost equals marginal revenue. marginal revenue equals price. the difference between price and marginal cost is maximized. price equals marginal cost. Save Question 7 (1 point) Question 7 Unsaved If a firm in a monopolistically competitive industry is profit maximizing, it should choose its level of advertising such that the marginal revenue of an additional dollar of advertising: Question 7 options: is equal to the elasticity of its demand curve minus 1. is exactly $1. increases revenues by $1. is equal to 1 plus the elasticity of its demand curve. is equal to the elasticity of its demand curve. Save Question 8 (1 point) Question 8 Unsaved Firms advertise in order to: Question 8 options: build brand loyalty. appeal to the price-sensitive consumers. increase the demand elasticities of their loyal customers. shift the market supply curve to the left. shift the market demand curve to the left. Save Question 9 (1 point) Question 9 Unsaved Firms offer promotions in order to: Question 9 options: build brand loyalty. appeal to the price-sensitive consumers. increase the demand elasticities of their loyal customers. shift the market supply curve to the left. shift the market demand curve to the left. Save Question 10 (1 point) Question 10 Unsaved If the demand increases for the product of a decreasing-cost industry: Question 10 options: short-run price goes up, but long-run price falls. long-run output goes up, but long-run price may go up or down. short-run output goes up, but long-run output may go up or down. long-run output goes up, but short-run price remains constant. long-run price goes up, but short-run price may go up or down. Save Question 11 (1 point) Question 11 Unsaved If the demand increases for the product of an increasing-cost industry: Question 11 options: short-run price goes up, but long-run price falls. long-run output goes up, but long-run price may go up or down. short-run output goes up, but long-run output may go up or down. long-run output goes up, but short-run price remains constant. short-run price goes up, and long-run price goes up. Save Question 12 (1 point) Question 12 Unsaved When Pan United Airlines gives a $400 fare discount to persons with student IDs, they are practicing: Question 12 options: first-degree price discrimination. second-degree price discrimination. third-degree price discrimination. markup pricing. tying. Save Question 13 (1 point) Question 13 Unsaved When a utility charges homeowners less than big industrial users, it is practicing: Question 13 options: first-degree price discrimination. fourth-degree price discrimination. third-degree price discrimination. markup pricing. tying. Save Question 14 (1 point) Question 14 Unsaved Cereal manufacturers’ use of coupons can be partially explained by: Question 14 options: first-degree price discrimination. second-degree price discrimination. third-degree price discrimination. markup pricing. tying. Save Question 15 (1 point) Question 15 Unsaved If a firm supplies separable markets with price elasticities h1 and h2, it should set prices P1 and P2 so that: Question 15 options: P1h1 = P2h2. P1 /h1 = P2 /h2. P1(1 + 1/h1) = P2 (1 + 1/h2). P1/(1 – 1 /h1) = P2 / (1 – 1/h2). P1 = 1 – 1/h1 and P2 = 1 – 1/h2. Save Question 16 (1 point) Question 16 Unsaved If a firm supplies separable markets with price elasticities h1 = –3 and h2 = –2, it should set prices P1 and P2 so that: Question 16 options: P1 = P2. 3P1 = 2P2. 2P1 = 3P2. 2/3P1 = 1/2P2. 2P1 = 2/3P2. Save Question 17 (1 point) Question 17 Unsaved Women are often charged more than men for haircuts performed by the same haircutter. This is not considered price discrimination because: Question 17 options: women receive more consumer surplus from haircuts than men receive. haircutters claim to spend more time on women’s hair, raising the cost of the haircut to the firm. firms make up the extra cost to consumers by giving women free samples of products. men receive more consumer surplus from haircuts than women receive. women have a lower price elasticity of demand for haircuts. Save Question 18 (1 point) Question 18 Unsaved If price is above the average variable cost but below the average total cost of a representative firm in a competitive industry: Question 18 options: there will be entry to the industry over time. there will be exit from the industry over time. the firms in the industry are just earning a normal rate of return. the firms in the industry are earning a supranormal rate of return. the industry is in long-run equilibrium. Save Question 19 (1 point) Question 19 Unsaved Joe’s T-shirts has costs given by TC = $100 + 3Q, where Q is the number of shirts. If Joe charges $5 each, the percentage markup for 100 shirts is: Question 19 options: 20%. 25%. 33%. 50%. 67%. Save Question 20 (1 point) Question 20 Unsaved In the model of monopolistic competition, there can be short-run: Question 20 options: losses or profits, but there must be profits in long-run equilibrium. profits, but there must be losses in long-run equilibrium. losses or profits, but there must be losses in long-run equilibrium. losses or profits, but there must be neither profits nor losses in long-run equilibrium. losses, but there must be profits in long-run equilibrium.

1. To maximize profits, a firm should produce output up to the point where

A. marginal revenue equals marginal cost

B. price equals marginal cost

C. the gap between the demand curve and the ATC is the greatest

D. all of the above

E. answers a and b, but not c

2. Which statement is false?

A. a profit maximizing firm will increase production when price exceeds marginal cost

B. the lowest point on a firm's short-run supply curve is at the shut-down point

C. A firm will operate at that ouput where MC equals MR only when it is maximizing profits

D. A profit-maximizing firm will decrease production when marginal cost exceeds price.

3. which statement is true?

A. all monopolies are good

B. All monopolies are bad

C. Most natural monopolies are government regulated or government owned

D. None of these statements is true

4. There are _____ limits to monopoly power

A. no

B. some

C. many

5. Which statement is true?

A. the monopolist's most efficient output is her most profitable output as well

B. the monopolist charges a higher price than the perfect competitor in the long run.

C. all monopolists have control over an essential resource.

D. none is true

6. As a firm grows larger

A. economies of scale set in, then diseconomies of scale.

B. diseconomies of scale set in, then economies of scale.

C. economies of scale and diseconomies of scale set in at the same time.

D. neither economies of scale nor diseconomies of scale set in.

7. A monopolist operates at the minimum point of her ATC curve

A. only in the short run

B. only in the long run

C. in both the short run and the long run

D. in neither the short run nor the long run

8. A natural monopoly

A. has an average cost curve that reaches minimum possible average cost at a low level of output.

B. has a marginal cost curve that is steeply upward slopoing.

C. is usually subject to antitrust suits

D is usually allowed to choose its price so as to maximize profits in the United States.

E. occurs when a single firm can supply the entire market demand for a product at a lower average cost than would be possible if two or more firms supplied the market.

9. For a monopolist, the price of the product

A. always equals the marginal revenue

B. is always less than the marginal revenue

C. exceeds the marginal revenue

D. always equals the marginal cost of the product

10. Monopolies are usually viewed with concern from an economic standpoint since

A. size is ingerently dangerous; the larger ther firm, the more likely it is to squeeze out the "little producer"

B. resources may be allocated in an efficient manner.

C. the government may be put at the mercy of several large producers

D. always equals the marginal cost of the product