Question

Assume that Clark Electronics has a monopoly in the production and sale of a new device for detecting and destroying a computer virus. Clark Electronics currently incurs short-run losses, but it continues to operate.
a. What must be true for Clark to continue to operate in the short run?
b. Draw a correctly labeled graph, and show each of the following for Clark.
i. The profit-maximizing price and output
ii. Area of loss
C. Assume Clark is maximizing profit. What will happen to its total revenue if Clark raises its price? Explain.
d. If demand for the new device increases, explain what will happen to each of the following in the short run.
i. Profit-maximizing output
ii. Total cost

Answer 1

Solution :

c. MC=MR is the profit maximizing equilibrium point. The price rise beyond that is likely to raise the total revenue. But the total cost might increase equally or more then that to nullify or decrease the profit.

d. (i). The demand increase implies that the AR (demand) curve shifts rightwards. This will increase the equilibrium price.

(ii). Change in demand does not affect the total cost.

a. Monopoly might continue to produce in short earn even if its AR < AC. It continues to do so until shut down point. It refers that production continued until average revenue (AR) is greater than equal to the average variable cost (AVC). The monopoly is a market with a single seller.

This market's average revenue (AR) demand curve is above its marginal curve . The curves are downward sloping, illustrating price demand inverse relationship.

Equilibrium quantity : when the marginal revenue = marginal cost

Equilibrium price : equilibrium quantity corresponding price at AR (demand ) curve.