Mail-Order Sales of Wine Are Illegal in Some States

question 74

Multiple Choice

Mail-order sales of wine are illegal in some states. Some wineries argue that the ability to ship directly to consumers helps small wineries and that shipping bans unfairly protect home-state wineries, raising prices to consumers. Others argue that the bans allow states to collect tax revenues and to keep wine from being sold to minors. Economists looking at this case would say that one effect of the ban is to prevent:

• A) reverse engineering.
• B) a network externality.
• C) competition to existing sellers.
• D) a winner-takes-all market.

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Definitions:

Efficient Equilibrium

A state of balance in a market where resources are allocated in the most efficient way possible, with no room for welfare improvement without making someone else worse off.

Relative Price

The price of one good or service compared to another, usually indicating how much of one can be exchanged for the other.

Economic Outcome

The result of economic activities, often measured by metrics such as GDP growth, unemployment rates, and inflation.

Marginal Rate Of Technical Substitution

The rate at which one input can be reduced per additional unit of another input, while maintaining the same level of output.