Question

A monopolist A. can charge whatever price it wants because it is the only firm producing the good. B. can usually keep price equal to marginal revenue by lowering the price on the last unit sold only. C. is constrained in its pricing decisions by the demand curve it faces. D. faces a demand curve that is more elastic than the demand curve for the industry.

Answer 1

Answer: A monopolist "C. is constrained in its pricing decisions by the demand curve it faces."

Explanation: The market demand curve (negative slope) for a company that exercises a monopoly position is very important, since it is the one that marks the limit to its decision making. For example, a company that would like to increase its price to the highest possible level could do so, but as the price increases, the quantity it sells is reduced, with which the maximum possible price would lead it to have a demand of zero. On the other hand, if you want to produce as much as possible, again the demand curve works as a border, because for the demand in the market to acquire a greater amount, the price at which you must sell your product is reduced, to the point in that it can meet all the demand at the intersection in the demand curve on the horizontal axis, but at this level the price of the product should be zero. Then it is clear that the demand in the market marks an important restriction for the company to choose an amount or the price at which it will produce.