Monopolies Flashcards
What is a monopoly?
A firm that is the sole seller of a product without close substitutes
Are there barriers to entry in monopolies? If so, name them
Yes
Monopoly resources (they own a key resource)
Government regulation (government allows the single firm to own said key resource)
The production process ( can produce output at a lower cost than other firms)
What is a natural monopoly?
A monopoly that can supply a good or service to an entire market at a lower cost than could other firms
How does ownership result in monopolies?
Ownership gurantees that no one can sell the product/service without the owner’s permission
Monopolists…
face downward sloping demand curves
Why does the government create monopolies through patents?
To increase incentives for creative activity (think of shark tank)
For a monopolist
Price = Average Revenue > Marginal Revenue
The monopoly output is ____ than the perfectly competitive output
Lower
The monopoly price is ____ than the perfectly competitive price
Higher
The output produced by a monopolist is ___ because____
Inefficient; Marginal Cost = Marginal Revenue
Monopolies have control over..
Price
Monopolies maximize profit when..
The level of output ( Marginal Revenue) is equal to Marginal Cost just like competitive firms