For many decades, the Royal Mail had a legal monopoly in the U.K. Companies in the postal business have increasing returns to scale, then constant returns to scale, and then decreasing returns to scale. The Royal Mail’s minimum average cost is £2 at 100 million deliveries and its minimum marginal cost is £1 at 75 million deliveries. The demand for postage is zero at a price of £10, and demand is 300 million deliveries at a price of £0. Marginal revenue is zero at a price of £10 and 150 at a price of £0. Note: Unless otherwise stated, the numerical answers in this question do not need to be exact but should correspond to how you have drawn your graph. (a) Draw a large graph showing the Royal Mail’s average cost curve and its marginal cost curve. Show how many deliveries would be made, and at what price, if Royal Mail operated as a monopoly. Show the Royal Mail’s profit or loss on the graph.

Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
8th Edition
ISBN:9781337091992
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:N. Gregory Mankiw
Chapter14: Monopoly
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 3PA
icon
Related questions
Question

For many decades, the Royal Mail had a legal monopoly in the U.K. Companies in the
postal business have increasing returns to scale, then constant returns to scale, and
then decreasing returns to scale. The Royal Mail’s minimum average cost is £2 at 100
million deliveries and its minimum marginal cost is £1 at 75 million deliveries.
The demand for postage is zero at a price of £10, and demand is 300 million
deliveries at a price of £0. Marginal revenue is zero at a price of £10 and 150 at a
price of £0.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, the numerical answers in this question do not need to
be exact but should correspond to how you have drawn your graph.


(a) Draw a large graph showing the Royal Mail’s average cost curve and its
marginal cost curve. Show how many deliveries would be made, and at what
price, if Royal Mail operated as a monopoly. Show the Royal Mail’s profit or
loss on the graph.

Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps with 1 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Total Cost
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
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781337091992
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
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
Microeconomics
Microeconomics
Economics
ISBN:
9781337617406
Author:
Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics
Economics
ISBN:
9781337617390
Author:
Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781337617383
Author:
Roger A. Arnold
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