The Futures Unlimited Corporation has invented the engine of rocket car. As the inventor, the company currently has a patent on this specific product. Only this firm has the exclusive right to control and distribute the quantity of this certain isotope of plutonium on the market. Therefore it is enjoying a monopoly and will maximize its profit. The profit maximizing behavior of a monopolist is explained below:
Profit (π) = Total Revenue (TR) – Total Cost (TC) = P×Q – TC
According to the FOC of profit maximization, we get dπ/dQ = (d(TR))/dQ - (d(TC))/dQ [Here P is not fixed]
= MR – MC = 0
Therefore MR = MC As a result, a monopolist sets a price where its MR is equal to its MC. From the above figure, we can determine that the
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A monopolist can also perform price discrimination. When different prices are charged by a seller for essentially the same product it is known as price discrimination. The monopolist often wants to segment the market according to the price elasticity of demand (e) and charge higher prices for those consumers with lower elasticity of demand, according to the mark-up formula. Therefore Futures Unlimited Corporation can also discriminate its price. Direct price discrimination can again be sub-divided into three categories – first-degree price discrimination, second-degree price discrimination, and third-degree price discrimination. With first degree price discrimination, every firm would like to charge a different price to each of its customers. If possible, the firm would charge each consumer the maximum price that consumer is willing to pay for each unit bought. The maximum price the consumers are willing to pay is known as the customer 's reservation price. The act of charging each customer his or her reservation price is called first degree price discrimination or perfect price discrimination. In second degree price discrimination, price varies in according to quantity demanded. Within some markets, each consumer purchases many units of the good over any given period, and the consumer 's demand declines with the number of units purchased. In this situation, a firm can discriminate according to the number consumed. This is
The monopolist finds it profitable to discriminate among various buyers, charge higher prices to those who are more willing to pay and lower prices to those who are less willing to pay (Sexton, 2013). One example of price discrimination from my own experience is: I work for Walmart and I am a Cashier there, I have checked out customer that own stores come in to purchase many different types of items for their business and some would say that it is cheaper to come to Walmart than to purchase from the retailers. Say they come in and purchase 10 loaves bread at the price of 88 cents, but they would resell it for $1.47 more to make a profit. Difficulty in reselling would be the conditions necessary for this price discrimination are met. In order
A lower per-unit price ($60) is charged if the buyer purchases a greater quantity of the tablet (in this case 3). Just like first degree price discrimination, the seller will extract some of the consumer’s surplus and gain profits.
For example, If you are selling a product that is a normal good with a high rate of competition in the market, raising the price could have negative effects on overall profits because users will simply find another substitute somewhere. Charles stated that market separation may come into play when firms realize there are differing elasticity curves for different consumers of the same product. Firms can maximize profits by evaluating consumer segments within a single market. If the firm notices different demand elasticity for different segments it may opt to engage in price discrimination to maximize profits. Charles gave Microsoft Office as an example; the same software is offered to students, casual users and business users at different price
As against his a competitive firm cannot change different prices from different buyers since he faces a perfectly elastic demand at the going market price. If he increases a slights rise in price he will lose the sellers and makes loss. Thus a competitive firm cannot discriminate prices which a monopolist can do.
Price discrimination is where a firm changes different consumers different prices for the same service.
As a consumer, we all get frustrated when we think a listed price is “too high” whether it is a necessity, and we have to buy it, or we just really want it. Some of the largest complaints by consumers today are directed towards the cost of goods. Marketing research has shown us that the costs of some items are being intentionally raised based on aspects of the individual who is making the purchase. The manipulation of prices can be broken down into three main issues: price fixing, price gouging, and price discrimination. Are there any positive or beneficial reasons to do this? Yes and no, the following paragraphs provide information about each practice individually.
Colleges and Universities are involved in third-degree price discrimination defined as the difference of prices depending on the factors of gender, sex, geographical location and socioeconomic status.According to Boundless “Analysis of Price Discrimination” “Price discrimination exists within a market when the sales of identical goods or services are sold at different prices by the same provider. The goal of price discrimination is for the seller to make the most profit possible . Although the cost of producing the products is the same, the
There are different kinds of markets in different economies/sectors/goods. Accordingly, there are different kinds of output and pricing decisions which take place. Usually, output and pricing decisions are interdependent except for the case of perfectly competitive markets. In perfectly competitive markets, a single firm is so small compared to the market that it cannot affect the prices. In that case, it must take the price as given, and then decide the quantity to be supplied. Price in this market is equal to the marginal cost of production. In monopoly, however, things are different. The monopolist can change the prices, as it is the sole provider of the good and thus has the market power. But here also, if the price increases quantity demanded
Anyone who shops will encounter price discriminations whether realizing it or not because many department stores and food chains offer discounts to seniors, such as Marshalls and McDonalds. However, the discounts are not automatic; the discounts have to be asked for. Therefore, two people of the same age could purchase the same product, one after the other, and one could receive a discount and the other would not. Price discrimination can be described as identical goods or services being sold at different prices from one single provider (Sexton, 2013). In addition, three categories are provided in order to meet the qualifications of price discrimination, such as operating as a monopoly, providing that the same product or service is not sold by someone else. The organization must operate under the elasticities of demand, and the product or service must have stipulations in order to prevent resale.
There are three categories of price discrimination, which are first, second and third degrees. This happens when firms can sell the same good/product at different prices to different groups of consumers. First degree price discrimination is when companies find out what their customers are willing to pay for the product and then selling it at that price. When doing this, it causes companies to be open to negotiating with consumers or personalize prices based on past performances the company has had and offer those prices. Second degree price discrimination is when companies refers to prices and special deals that they offer to their customers who meet certain conditions or certain special qualities.
For price discrimination to exist we need to sell the same products or services to different consumers which would not be possible without fulfilling specific conditions. This is mainly due to the fact that individuals are ration and therefore won’t be willing to spend more on a product than another consumer. For price discrimination to take place three important conditions need to be considered these include; incomplete competition, price flexibility, and arbitrage (simultaneous purchase and sale of an asset to profit from a difference in the price). For a company to operate within a market and be successful with price discrimination, the company must do this through a certain degree of market power. Therefore, the market demand curve should be at a negative slope this therefore creates market power to create price discrimination. Market power is a necessary
This chapter sets out the rationale for price discrimination and discusses the two major forms of price discrimination. It then considers the welfare effects and antitrust implications of price discrimination.
Competition-based pricing is setting a price in comparison with competitors. Surely a firm has three options and these are to price lower, price to same or price higher. For example: Dove Damage Therapy Shampoo (700 ml) cost $11.70 versus Pantene Shampoo (700ml) cost $10.90 in FairPrice.
b) In a monopolistic competition structure, although there are numerous firms, they carry different products. Due to product differentiation, each company is able to somewhat control their own pricing.