Economists Have Long Debated Whether There Is a Significant Loss

question 223

Multiple Choice

Economists have long debated whether there is a significant loss of well-being to society in markets that are monopolistically competitive rather than perfectly competitive.Which of the following offers the best reason why some economists believe that monopolistically competitive markets are less efficient than perfectly competitive markets?

• A)In contrast to perfectly competitive markets, neither allocative efficiency nor productive efficiency are achieved in monopolistically competitive markets.
• B)In contrast to perfectly competitive markets, firms in monopolistically competitive markets earn economic profits in long-run equilibrium.
• C)In contrast to perfectly competitive markets, firms in monopolistically competitive markets do not produce where price equals average total cost in long-run equilibrium.
• D)In contrast to perfectly competitive markets, firms in monopolistically competitive markets can charge a price greater than average total cost in the short run.

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Definitions:

Break Even

The point at which total costs and total revenue are equal, resulting in no net gain or loss for a business.

Long-Run Economic Losses

Persistent negative financial outcomes for firms or the economy that occur over an extended period, often due to structural issues.

Production Costs

Expenses incurred in the manufacturing or creation of goods, including labor, materials, and overhead.

Price-Taker Market

A market situation where individual buyers and sellers have no influence over the price of a product due to the product's homogeneity and the presence of many participants.