When Consumers Cannot Tell the Difference at the Time of Sale

question 125

Multiple Choice

When consumers cannot tell the difference at the time of sale between high-quality products and those with defects, strong sales of the low-quality products will tend to depress price and drive the high-quality products from the market. Economists call this

• A) the curse of advertising.
• B) the imperfect information problem.
• C) the brand name problem.
• D) an open-access resource.

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Definitions:

Long-Run Equilibrium

Long-run equilibrium occurs in a market when all firms earn normal profits, and no new firms have an incentive to enter or exit, resulting in market stability over time.

Average Total Cost

The cost of producing each unit, calculated by dividing the overall production expenses by the quantity of units manufactured.

Normal Profit

The minimum level of profit needed for a company to remain competitive in the market, factoring in the cost of opportunity.

Long-Run Equilibrium

A state in which all factors of production and costs are variable, and firms in a competitive market make just enough profit to cover their costs.