Suppose You Have Just Opened a Store to Sell Espresso

question 147

Multiple Choice

Suppose you have just opened a store to sell espresso machines.Both you and a competing store buy this machine from a manufacturer for $130 each.Your competitor who has a store of the same size as yours is currently selling about 10 machines a month at a price of $200 per machine.You expect to sell about 6 machines a month at a price of $220 per machine.If you lower your price, you expect to make a loss.Which of the following could explain why your competitor is able to profitably sell the machine at a lower price although the cost of purchasing the machine is the same for both of you?

• A)The competing store probably has a lower marginal cost of production.
• B)The competing store probably has a lower average variable cost of production.
• C)The competing store's goal is to maximize revenue and not profit.
• D)The competing store probably has a lower average cost because average fixed cost falls as output increases.

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Definitions:

Price-fixing

An illegal agreement among competitors to fix prices, set production levels, or divide markets, to ensure mutual economic benefit.

Antitrust Law

Legislation designed to promote competition and regulate and prevent monopolies or other practices that restrain trade.

Legal Cartel Theory

A concept that explores the legality and economic implications of a group of firms controlling the market by regulating prices and output like a cartel.

Occupational Licensing

The laws of state or local governments that require that a worker satisfy certain specified requirements and obtain a license from a licensing board before engaging in a particular occupation.