Multiple Choice Questions for Monopoly

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Figure 1
  1. If the monopolist depicted in Figure 1 is maximizing profits, the correct price/output combination will be:
    1. Price = 6, Quantity = 6.
    2. Price = 3, Quantity = 5.
    3. Price = 10, Quantity = 5.
    4. Price =7, Quantity = 8.
    5. Price = 8, Quantity = 7.
    Answer for 1

  2. If the monopolist depicted in Figure 1 is maximizing profits, the actual profit earned will be:
    1. 20.
    2. 15.
    3. 35.
    4. 10.
    5. 40.
    Answer for 2

  3. Remembering that the firm depicted in Figure 1 is a profit maximizing monopolist, in long run equilibrium price and output will be:
    1. Price = 6, Quantity = 6.
    2. Price = 3, Quantity = 5.
    3. Price = 10, Quantity = 5.
    4. Price =7, Quantity = 5.
    5. Price = 8, Quantity = 7.
    Answer for 3

  4. Suppose the monopolist depicted in Figure 1 is able to practice 1st degree (perfect) price discrimination if it could do this successfully the total number of units sold and the price of the last unit sold will be:
    1. price of last unit = 6, total quantity sold = 6.
    2. price of last unit = 3, total quantity sold = 5.
    3. price of last unit = 10, total quantity sold = 5.
    4. price of last unit = 7, total quantity sold = 8.
    5. price of last unit = 8, total quantity sold = 7.
    Answer for 4

  5. If the monopolist depicted in Figure 1 is able to practice 1st degree (perfect) price discrimination its total revenue will be:
    1. 56.
    2. 64.
    3. 91.
    4. 144.
    5. 80.
    Answer for 5

  6. Suppose a small town in Northern California has only one restaurant. Suppose the annual earthquake insurance premiums for that restaurant increase. Which of the following would we expect in the short-run:
    1. An increase in prices and no change in the number of meals sold.
    2. An increase in prices and a decrease in the number of meals sold.
    3. No change in prices and no change in the number of meals sold.
    4. A decrease in prices and no change in the number of meals sold.
    5. A decrease in prices and an increase in the number of meals sold.
    Answer for 6

  7. Again considering the restaurant whose earthquake insurance premiums rose, which of the following would we expect in the long-run when compared with the period just before the insurance premiums rose (if nothing else changes):
    1. An increase in prices and no change in the number of meals sold.
    2. An increase in prices and a decrease in the number of meals sold.
    3. No change in prices and no change in the number of meals sold.
    4. A decrease in prices and no change in the number of meals sold.
    5. A decrease in prices and an increase in the number of meals sold.
    Answer for 7

    Figure 2

  8. Consider the demand curves shown in Figure 2. If D is the demand curve for a monopolist, which demand curve represents the one that it will face if a second firm enters the industry.
    1. D1
    2. D2
    3. D3
    4. D4
    5. D5
    Answer for 8

  9. Again using the demand curves shown in Figure 2, if D is the demand curve for one of two firms in an industry, which demand curve represents the one that it will face if it is able to force the other firm to leave the industry by winning a patent infringement suit against the other firm.
    1. D1
    2. D2
    3. D3
    4. D4
    5. D5
    Answer for 9

  10. Suppose the diamond industry is a monopoly and suppose that there is an increase in the productivity of diamond miners. Which of the following would you predict will happen in the market for diamonds in the short run.
    1. An increase in the price of diamonds and no change in the number of diamonds sold.
    2. An increase in the price of diamonds and a decrease in the number of diamonds sold.
    3. No change in the price of diamonds and no change in the number of diamonds sold.
    4. A decrease in the price of diamonds and no change in the number of diamonds sold.
    5. A decrease in the price of diamonds and an increase in the number of diamonds sold.
    Answer for 10

  11. Again considering the effect of an increase in the productivity of diamond miners. Which of the following best describes the resulting profit experience of the diamond industry.
    1. an increase in profits from diamond sales because variable costs fell.
    2. an increase in profits from diamond sales because the demand for diamond shifted out.
    3. an increase in profits from diamond sales because fixed costs fell.
    4. a reduction in profits from diamond sales because variable costs rose.
    5. a reduction in profits from diamond sales because the demand for diamond shifted back.
    Answer for 11

  12. Publishing companies typically charge libraries higher subscription rates than individuals for technical journals. (By technical journals we mean publications where articles are written by experts in a field for other experts such as the New England Journal of Medicine or the Molecular Biology or the Journal of Public Economics. It is not uncommon to find that rates charged to libraries are 5 or 10 times or even more above those charged to individuals. The best explanation for the ability of the firms to do this is that:
    1. libraries have more inelastic demands for technical journals that individuals so the publishers are able to engage in price discrimination.
    2. individuals need the journals more so the publishers gives them a break.
    3. libraries have more elastic demands for technical journals that individuals so the publishers are able to engage in price discrimination.
    4. individuals have more inelastic demands for technical journals so the publishers are able to engage in price discrimination.
    5. since libraries have unlimited budgets publishers simply take advantage of them.
    Answer for 12

  13. A monopolist's marginal revenue will always be less than market price. This is because:
    1. There are substantial startup costs and other barriers to entry.
    2. The firm is able to practice perfect price discrimination.
    3. Demand and marginal revenue have an inverse relationship.
    4. Because monopolist always have higher production costs than other types of firms or industries..
    5. The monopolist must reduce the price of all units of output, not just an additional unit, in order to increase sales.
    Answer for 13

  14. When you go to the movies, the theater is a monopoly vendor of popcorn while you're there (which is why it costs so much). Suppose that the cost to the theater of fake butter flavoring and yellow food coloring rise significantly, what will happen to the price and quantity of popcorn sold by the theater.
    1. The price of popcorn will rise and the quantity sold will increase.
    2. The price of popcorn will rise and the quantity sold will fall.
    3. The price of popcorn will remain unchanged and the quantity sold will remain unchanged.
    4. The price of popcorn will fall and the quantity sold will fall.
    5. The price of popcorn will fall and the quantity sold will increase.
    Answer for 14

  15. Due to the increase in the cost of fake butter flavoring and yellow food coloring the theater will experience:
    1. an increase in profits from popcorn sales because the demand for popcorn shifted out.
    2. an increase in profits from popcorn sales because the demand for popcorn shifted back.
    3. a reduction in profits from popcorn sales because fixed costs rose.
    4. a reduction in profits from popcorn sales because variable costs rose.
    5. a reduction in profits from popcorn sales because the demand for popcorn shifted back.
    Answer for 15

    Table 1
    Q P TR
    1 20 20
    2 19 38
    3 18 54
    4 17 68
    5 16 80
    6 15 90
    7 14 98
    8 13 104
  16. The data in Table 1 above are for Lane, the only vendor of brick oven baked goat cheese and avocado pizzas at a sporting event. Q is the number of pizzas sold each hour, P is the price in dollars and TR is the total revenue (just P X Q). If the vendor determines that her profit maximizing price per pizza is $15 then her marginal cost for each pizza must be:
    1. over $6 but no more than $8.
    2. over $8 but no more than $10.
    3. over $10 but no more than $12.
    4. over $12 but no more than $14.
    5. over $14 but no more than $15.
    Answer for 16

  17. Suppose at the next sporting event, a few weeks later, we observe Lane (still with the same monopoly on brick oven baked goat cheese and avocado pizzas) selling her pizzas for $17 each. If nothing has changed about the demand data we know then that her new marginal cost for each pizza must be:
    1. over $6 but no more than $8.
    2. over $8 but no more than $10.
    3. over $10 but no more than $12.
    4. over $12 but no more than $14.
    5. over $14 but no more than $16.
    Answer for 17
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