Two Firms Would Sometimes Be Better Off If They Got

question 20

Multiple Choice

Two firms would sometimes be better off if they got together and agreed to charge a high price, rather than to compete and risk having to charge a lower, competitive price.What is the greatest deterrent to this strategy?

• A)The firms may find that the price they charge is greater than the price that would maximize their profits.
• B)An agreement by firms to charge high prices is illegal. The government can fine the firms and send their managers to jail.
• C)Consumers may resent having to pay high prices and not buy from either of the firms.
• D)One of the firms may decide to lower its price and take business away from the firm that charged the high price.

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Definitions:

Perfectly Elastic

Describes a situation in which the quantity demanded or supplied of a good changes infinitely in response to any change in price.

R&D Expenditures

Funds allocated by a government, corporation, or other entity towards research and development activities aimed at innovating and improving products or processes.

Interest-Rate Cost-Of-Funds

The expense associated with borrowing funds, often determined by the interest rate at which money is borrowed.

Expected-Rate-Of-Return

The anticipated percentage of profit or loss an investment is likely to generate.