Economists Have Long Debated Whether There Is a Significant Loss

question 259

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 benefit consumers despite any loss of well-being?

• A)Although consumers may pay a price greater than marginal cost for a product, the product is produced at the minimum average total cost.
• B)Although consumers may pay a price greater than marginal cost and the product is not produced at minimum average total cost, they benefit from being able to buy a differentiated product more closely suited to their tastes.
• C)Consumers pay a price equal to the marginal cost of producing a product, even though it is not produced at the minimum average total cost.
• D)Consumers are better off choosing from a variety of differentiated products, even though product differentiation causes barriers that restrict entry into monopolistically competitive markets.

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Definitions:

Absorption Costing

An accounting method that includes all manufacturing costs - direct materials, direct labor, and both variable and fixed manufacturing overhead - in the cost of a product.

Variable Costing

An accounting method that only includes variable production costs (materials, labor) in product cost, excluding fixed costs.

Mixed Cost

A cost that has both fixed and variable components, which changes with the level of output but not in direct proportion.

Fixed Manufacturing Costs

Overhead expenses that do not vary with production level, such as rent, salaries, and utility costs in a manufacturing environment.