Smalltown Has Two Family-Owned Hardware Stores That Have Been in Business

question 10

Essay

Smalltown has two family-owned hardware stores that have been in business for years.Major Hardware decides that Smalltown would be a good place to build one of its superstores.Major opens,advertising unbelievably low prices;in fact,at below cost.Because Major owns stores nationally,it is able to keep prices extremely low until both of the family-owned stores have to go out of business because they cannot compete.After Major is the only hardware store in town,it raises its prices enough to make up for its former losses and to make some additional profit.Discuss this behavior in relation to antitrust law.

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Definitions:

Market Rate Of Return

The average rate of return anticipated by investors in a particular market, benchmarked against existing interest rates or historical returns.

Dividend

A portion of a company's profits allocated by the board of directors to its shareholders.

Preferred Stock

A class of ownership in a corporation that has a higher claim on the assets and earnings than common stock, typically with fixed dividends and without voting rights.

Rate Of Interest

The percent of principal charged by the lender for the use of its money.