ECON 230D1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Price Discrimination, Economic Surplus, Market Power

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30 Aug 2018

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Since demand is downward sloping = not perfectly inelastic so cannot charge anything they want (monopoly) since people have substitution. So, monopolies will still advertise to shift the d curve rightward. Price discrimination: they charge different prices on different types of consumers for a same product. And these difference in prices are not due to cost differences like in the haircut example : men pay less for a haircut than women ( men"s willingness to pay is smaller than women) Uniform pricing: charging the same price on the same product. Non-uniform pricing: charging different prices for same product or charging a customer a price that depends on units bought. 2- groups/individual consumers must have demand curves that differ. If the transaction costs are high , resale is difficult , so some firms will increase transaction costs so that it becomes difficult. A firm can prevent resale by vertically integrating i. e participating in all stages of production.

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Question 1

The amount of profit that can be achieved using uniform pricing is __________ the profit that can be achieved from price discrimination because of _______.

Select one:

a. greater than; the cost of trying to determine every single consumer's individual demand (willingness to pay) is prohibitively expensive.

b. less than; uniform pricing is more costly so the ATC and AVC curves are higher than they are under price discrimination.

c. equal to; the TR and TC curves are equivalent under either pricing scheme, so there is no profit advantage to either scheme.

d. less than; total demand includes people who would be willing to pay more than, as well as less than, the uniform market price.

Question 2

A firm selling in two markets is practicing price discrimination:

Select one:

a. when it refuses to sell the good to some group of consumers.

b. anytime it charges different consumers different prices.

c. when it charges the same price to different consumers as long as they differ in their demand for the good.

d. when it is charging different consumers, different prices, and the price difference is not based upon cost differences.

Question 3

To successfully practice price discrimination:

Select one:

a. consumers in two separate markets must have identical demand.

b. the firm must possess market power.

c. it must be easy for consumers in one market to sell to consumers in the other market.

d. the firm must be a pure monopoly.

Question 4

If it could practice first-degree price discrimination, a firm with market power could earn:

Select one:

a. its typical monopoly profit as well as the area which, under uniform pricing, would represent the deadweight loss associated with market power.

b. an area half the size of its monopoly power under uniform pricing.

c. its typical monopoly profit as well as the area which, under uniform pricing, would represent consumer surplus.

d. its typical monopoly profit as well as the area which, under uniform pricing, would represent consumer surplus and the deadweight loss associated with market power.

erinant26

When a monopoly lowers its price to increase quantity,

a. The quantity produced drives down marginal revenue

b. It will increase its profits

c. It will make less money on the units it would have orginally sold

d. It is not maximizing its profit

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

a. Both A and B

b. A monopoly can charge whatever it wants

c. Profit maximizatin occurs by setting price first

d. A monopoly cannot set price and quantity such that the point lies above the demand curve

A monopoly that is maximizing profits operates is the _______ portion of the demand curve

a. Unitary elastic

b. Horizontal

c. Elastic

d. Inelastic

A monopoly shuts down when,

a. The long run price is below its average variable cost

b. Never, because it can raise its prices as high as necessary to keep operating and maximizing profits

c. The short run price is below its average variable cost

d. The average cost is less than price

The ability of a monopoly to charge a price that exceeds marginal cost depends on,

a. Shape of the marginal cost curve

b. The price elasticity of supply

c. Price elasticity of demand

d. Slope of the demand curve

Which of the following could create a cost advantage for a monopoly?

a. Lower friction due to better organization

b. Better technology

c. All of the above

d. Standardization

Price discrimination,

a. Is illegal in the U.S.

b. Is when consumers use prices to discriminate between different quality products

c. Is a form of pricing where consumers pay different prices for a good

d. Allows firms to set a single intermediate price between consumers' low and high willingness to pay

Which of the following is likely hardest to resell?

a. The free facial you won at a raffel

b. An apple iPod

c. A coupon for a free haircut

d. A discount airline tickey you bought with your frequent flyer miles

If a monopoly charges higher prices to consumers who buy smaller quantities than to consumers who buy larger quantities; then,

a. Consuers who buy larger quantities have a higher price elastiity of demand

b. Consumers who buy smaller quantities have a lower price elasticity of demand

c. Both A and C

d. Consumers who buy larger quantities have a lower price elasticity of demand

Purchasing a season pass t the local symphony,

a. Is an example of third degree price discrimination

b. Is an example of second degree price discrimination

c. Is an example of first degree price discrimination

d. All of the above

Suppose you are the proprietor of the only bar in Dallas. Since you are the only place in town for people to get drinks you exercise some market power and face a downward sloping demand curve for drinks given by P = 10 - (3/2)Q for each individual. Your total costs are given by TC = Q. There are 100 individuals with identical demand.

Assuming that you must follow a uniform pricing strategy, what is the profit maximizing price and quantity and the associated profit? What is consumer surplus? Is the market efficient?
If each person is charged their reservation price, what type of price discrimination is this? Assuming you can engage in this pricing scheme, what is your profit maximizing price and quantity and the associated profit? What is consumer surplus? Is the market efficient?
Now assume that you decide to try a two-part tariff scheme instead, charging a price per drink and a cover charge at the door. What is the optimal two-part tariff charged to each person? How many drinks will be sold to each person? What is your total profit associated with this scheme? What is the total consumer surplus? Is the market efficient?
Assume that your clientele is composed of two types: 50 customers are heavy drinkers with individual demand described by P_H = 15 - Q_H and 50 customers are light drinkers with individual demand described by P_L = 10 -3Q_L. Which group would you rather charge a higher price? Why?
Assume that the market is split as described before. There is no constraint on the number of drinks you can sell. You can charge a different price to each group. What is the optimal price and corresponding quantity for each segment of the market? What is your total profit under this scheme? What type of price discrimination is this?
Assume that the market is split as described before. The city of Dallas tells you that can only sell 325 drinks in total. You can charge a different price to each group. What is the optimal price and corresponding quantity for each segment of the market? What is your total profit under this scheme?

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ECON 230D1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Price Discrimination, Economic Surplus, Market Power

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