Question

Hewlett-Packard will not raise the prices of its personal computers without first considering how Dell might respond. This is evidence of price fixing. cutthroat competition. collusion. interdependence.

Answer 1

Answer: interdependence

Explanation:

Price fixing - incorrect. This is an illegal practise where 2 competing companies from the same market unlawfully agree that they won't sell their goods below a specific price. Hewlett - Packard and Dell did not enter into an agreement to limit their sales prices to a specific amount.

Cutthroat competition - incorrect. This is a practise where competitors within the same market aim to cripple or even eliminate their competition, by using heavy promotion or predatory pricing techniques (setting low prices to try an remove rivals). Hewlett - Packard is not aiming to use destructive techniques to eliminate Dell, and in this case isn't even considering lowering it's prices at all.

Collusion - incorrect. This is an illegal secret conspiracy, usually committed by competitors joining forces to mislead and deceive others within or linked to the market. This doesn't apply as Hewlett Packard 's intentions not to raise prices aren't to deceive Dell and other competitors. Further Hewlett - Packard has not made a secret pact of any form with its competitors.

Interdependence - correct. Interdependence is companies relying on each other to fulfil their objectives. Hewlett Packard relies on its competitors and how they will behave to a change in prices and other economic factors. The market is quite fragile, so any change by a company could have chain - reaction level effects to other companies and its customers operating within that same market. Both companies thus need each other in order to succeed.