Consider a firm in an oligopoly in which a few sellers offer differentiated brands of widgets. Suppose that if Firm 1 were to cut its price in order to sell more widgets, its competitors would quickly lower their own prices to protect their market shares. If, however, Firm 1 were to raise its price, its competitors would not follow, and Firm 1 would lose market share. Under these (non-ceteris-paribus) assumptions, the demand curve faced by Firm 1 is, in effect, highly elastic at prices above the current price, and less elastic at prices below the current price. Suppose that Firm 1's current price is P* = $10 and it sells Q* = 4 widgets per day. If Firm 1 were to raise its price, it would face the demand: P = 12 – 2Q (P > 10) If Firm 1 were to reduce its price, it would face the demand: P = 14 - Q (P< 10) a) Write the firm's marginal revenue function for prices above and below $10. MR = (P > 10, so: Q* < 4) MR = (P < 10, so: Q* > 4) b) GRAPH Firm 1's demand (D) and marginal revenue (MR) curves. Label point E (4, $10). c) Firm 1 has no incentive to change its price as long as: $. < MC < $ d) Calculate the elasticity of demand for each demand function at E(4, $10). If Firm 1 raises price: ED = If Firm 1 lowers price: ED =

Microeconomic Theory
12th Edition
ISBN:9781337517942
Author:NICHOLSON
Publisher:NICHOLSON
Chapter15: Imperfect Competition
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 15.5P
icon
Related questions
Question
Could I have help with parts c and d of problem I’m a bit confused.
Consider a firm in an oligopoly in which a few sellers offer differentiated brands of widgets.
Suppose that if Firm 1 were to cut its price in order to sell more widgets, its competitors would
quickly lower their own prices to protect their market shares. If, however, Firm 1 were to raise
its price, its competitors would not follow, and Firm 1 would lose market share. Under these
(non-ceteris-paribus) assumptions, the demand curve faced by Firm 1 is, in effect, highly elastic
at prices above the current price, and less elastic at prices below the current price.
Suppose that Firm 1's current price is P* = $10 and it sells Q* = 4 widgets per day.
If Firm 1 were to raise its price, it would face the demand:
P = 12 - 2Q (P> 10)
If Firm 1 were to reduce its price, it would face the demand: P = 14 – Q
(P< 10)
a) Write the firm's marginal revenue function for prices above and below $10.
MR =
(P > 10, so: Q* < 4)
MR =
(P < 10, so: Q* 2 4)
b) GRAPH Firm 1's demand (D) and marginal revenue (MR) curves. Label point E (4, $10).
c) Firm 1 has no incentive to change its price as long as:
$.
< MC < $.
d) Calculate the elasticity of demand for each demand function at E(4, $10).
If Firm 1 raises price: ED
If Firm 1 lowers price: ED =
Transcribed Image Text:Consider a firm in an oligopoly in which a few sellers offer differentiated brands of widgets. Suppose that if Firm 1 were to cut its price in order to sell more widgets, its competitors would quickly lower their own prices to protect their market shares. If, however, Firm 1 were to raise its price, its competitors would not follow, and Firm 1 would lose market share. Under these (non-ceteris-paribus) assumptions, the demand curve faced by Firm 1 is, in effect, highly elastic at prices above the current price, and less elastic at prices below the current price. Suppose that Firm 1's current price is P* = $10 and it sells Q* = 4 widgets per day. If Firm 1 were to raise its price, it would face the demand: P = 12 - 2Q (P> 10) If Firm 1 were to reduce its price, it would face the demand: P = 14 – Q (P< 10) a) Write the firm's marginal revenue function for prices above and below $10. MR = (P > 10, so: Q* < 4) MR = (P < 10, so: Q* 2 4) b) GRAPH Firm 1's demand (D) and marginal revenue (MR) curves. Label point E (4, $10). c) Firm 1 has no incentive to change its price as long as: $. < MC < $. d) Calculate the elasticity of demand for each demand function at E(4, $10). If Firm 1 raises price: ED If Firm 1 lowers price: ED =
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 5 steps with 3 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Financial Statements
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
Microeconomic Theory
Microeconomic Theory
Economics
ISBN:
9781337517942
Author:
NICHOLSON
Publisher:
Cengage
Managerial Economics: Applications, Strategies an…
Managerial Economics: Applications, Strategies an…
Economics
ISBN:
9781305506381
Author:
James R. McGuigan, R. Charles Moyer, Frederick H.deB. Harris
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:
9781337106665
Author:
Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Economics:
Economics:
Economics
ISBN:
9781285859460
Author:
BOYES, William
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Exploring Economics
Exploring Economics
Economics
ISBN:
9781544336329
Author:
Robert L. Sexton
Publisher:
SAGE Publications, Inc
Survey Of Economics
Survey Of Economics
Economics
ISBN:
9781337111522
Author:
Tucker, Irvin B.
Publisher:
Cengage,