Question

The allocatively efficient quantity of product Z for the whole market is 2 million units. At that quantity, the demand for Z is at $5 and the average total cost for its single supplier is $7. The average total cost does not fall to $5 until 3.5 million units. Based on this data, the market for product Z is

Answer 1

Question Completion:

ANSWER CHOICES

A.  operating with decreasing returns to scale

B.  a natural monopoly

C.  a legal monopoly

D.  monopolistically competitive

E.  productively efficient

Answer:

Based on this data, the market for product Z is:

A. operating with decreasing returns to scale.

Explanation:

For the Average Revenue (Price) to equal the Average Total Cost (ATC) and enable the firms operating in the market to break-even, the firms must increase their production units from 2 million to 3.5 million units.  The conclusion that the market for product Z is operating with decreasing returns to scale for a single supplier is because it will take a 75% increase in production for the average total cost to fall from $7 to $5 for the single producer.  In other words, the percentage increase in production does not result in a proportionate decrease in average total cost.