7. The Acme Software Corp. has developed at a cost of $500,000 - two software programs for computers: a word processor; and a spreadsheet. Acme's marketing department has determined that there are three categories of potential buyers of these programs - but there is no way of identifying an individual's category at the time of sale. The three categories, along with the numbers of (annual) buyers and the maximum willingness to pay (w.t.p.) of each group, are provided in the following table. Since this is software, the marginal costs of producing and selling (online) are zero.

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Chapter14: Monopoly
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7. The Acme Software Corp. has developed - at a cost of $500,000 - two software programs for
computers: a word processor; and a spreadsheet. Acme's marketing department has determined that
there are three categories of potential buyers of these programs - but there is no way of identifying
an individual's category at the time of sale. The three categories, along with the numbers of (annual)
buyers and the maximum willingness to pay (w.t.p.) of each group, are provided in the following
table. Since this is software, the marginal costs of producing and selling (online) are zero.
Number of
Buyer category potential buyers
Generalist
10,000
10,000
Sort-of geek
Super-geek
10,000
W.t.p. for word
processor
$60
$50
$25
W.t.p. for
spreadsheet
$50
$125
$140
a. Acme currently sells the two programs separately. If Acme is maximizing its profits, what
price is it charging for each program? Explain.
b. What would be the price for each program that would maximize the sum of consumer
surplus plus producer surplus? Explain
Transcribed Image Text:7. The Acme Software Corp. has developed - at a cost of $500,000 - two software programs for computers: a word processor; and a spreadsheet. Acme's marketing department has determined that there are three categories of potential buyers of these programs - but there is no way of identifying an individual's category at the time of sale. The three categories, along with the numbers of (annual) buyers and the maximum willingness to pay (w.t.p.) of each group, are provided in the following table. Since this is software, the marginal costs of producing and selling (online) are zero. Number of Buyer category potential buyers Generalist 10,000 10,000 Sort-of geek Super-geek 10,000 W.t.p. for word processor $60 $50 $25 W.t.p. for spreadsheet $50 $125 $140 a. Acme currently sells the two programs separately. If Acme is maximizing its profits, what price is it charging for each program? Explain. b. What would be the price for each program that would maximize the sum of consumer surplus plus producer surplus? Explain
c. Is there a difference between your answers to #a and #b? Explain.
d. Acme's V.P. for Marketing - Ms. Lotta Sales - has hired you as a consultant to advise her
as to whether there is a way for Acme to change its pricing, so as to increase its profits. Is there any
specific advice that you can give her? Explain.
Transcribed Image Text:c. Is there a difference between your answers to #a and #b? Explain. d. Acme's V.P. for Marketing - Ms. Lotta Sales - has hired you as a consultant to advise her as to whether there is a way for Acme to change its pricing, so as to increase its profits. Is there any specific advice that you can give her? Explain.
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