A Monopoly In Microeconomics Knowledge Quiz!

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1. Suppose the only professional hockey team within 500 miles is the Salt Lake City Slappers team. If the State of Utah imposes a profits tax on sports teams, the Slappers will:

Explanation

The correct answer is raise ticket prices. If the State of Utah imposes a profits tax on sports teams, the Slappers will likely increase ticket prices in order to offset the additional tax burden and maintain their profitability. By raising ticket prices, they can generate more revenue to compensate for the tax and ensure that their profits are not significantly impacted.

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About This Quiz
A Monopoly In Microeconomics Knowledge Quiz! - Quiz

This is a knowledge quiz about monopoly in microeconomics. You might only know about the word “monopoly” from the popular boardgame which is famous for making families and friends question their loyalty to one another, but the term refers to one person or firm’s exclusive control of the supply o... see moretrade in a particular commodity or service. What can you tell us about monopolies in relation to the world of microeconomics? Let’s find out!
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2. The welfare loss of monopoly is also called:

Explanation

Deadweight loss refers to the economic inefficiency caused by a monopoly. It occurs when the monopoly restricts output and raises prices, resulting in a loss of consumer surplus and a decrease in overall welfare. This loss is caused by the reduction in consumer choices, higher prices, and a decrease in total output compared to a perfectly competitive market. Deadweight loss represents the loss of potential gains from trade and is a key concept in understanding the negative impacts of monopolies on society.

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3. A monopolist earning short-run economic profit determines that at its present level of output, marginal revenue is $23 and marginal cost is $30. Which of the following should the firm do to increase profit?

Explanation

The monopolist should raise price and lower output in order to increase profit. This is because the marginal revenue is less than the marginal cost at the current level of output, indicating that the firm is not maximizing its profit. By raising the price, the monopolist can increase its revenue per unit sold, while lowering the output helps to reduce the costs associated with producing additional units. This combination allows the firm to increase its profit by improving the balance between revenue and cost.

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4. Which of the following is true of monopoly?

Explanation

In a monopoly, there are no close substitutes for the product being produced. This means that consumers do not have alternative options that are similar to the monopolized product. As a result, the monopolistic firm has a significant amount of market power and can control the price and quantity of the product without facing much competition. This lack of substitutes allows the firm to maintain its dominance in the market and potentially earn high profits.

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5. Which of the following prevents potential competitors from entering a monopolist's market? 

Explanation

Legal restrictions prevent potential competitors from entering a monopolist's market. This means that the monopolist has exclusive rights or privileges granted by the government, such as patents or licenses, that make it difficult or impossible for other companies to enter the market and compete with them. These legal barriers create a barrier to entry and give the monopolist control over the market, allowing them to maintain their monopoly power.

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6. A profit-maximizing monopolist never produces along the _____ portion of the demand curve because marginal revenue is _____ there. 

Explanation

A profit-maximizing monopolist never produces along the inelastic portion of the demand curve because marginal revenue is negative there. This is because when demand is inelastic, a decrease in price does not lead to a significant increase in quantity demanded. As a result, the monopolist would have to lower the price significantly to sell more units, causing the marginal revenue to be negative. To maximize profit, the monopolist focuses on producing where marginal revenue is positive, typically along the elastic portion of the demand curve.

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7.  In the monopoly market structure, new firms:

Explanation

In a monopoly market structure, there is only one firm that controls the entire market. This firm has significant barriers to entry, such as high start-up costs, exclusive access to resources, or legal restrictions. As a result, new firms cannot enter the industry and compete with the monopoly firm, even in the long run. The monopoly firm has established such a strong market position that it can continue to generate profits without facing any competition. Therefore, the correct answer is that new firms cannot profitably enter the industry, even in the long run.

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8. Which of the following is true of marginal revenue for a monopolist that charges a single price:

Explanation

This answer is correct because a monopolist faces a downward-sloping demand curve, meaning that in order to sell an additional unit, the monopolist must lower the price for all units sold. As a result, the marginal revenue (MR) generated from selling an additional unit will be less than the price (P) charged for that unit. Therefore, P > MR.

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9. Which of the following is a major criticism of a monopoly as a cause of allocative inefficiency?

Explanation

A major criticism of a monopoly as a cause of allocative inefficiency is that a monopolist fails to expand output to the level where the consumers' evaluation of an additional unit is just equal to its opportunity cost. This means that the monopolist does not produce enough to satisfy consumer demand and maximize overall welfare. By restricting output, the monopolist can charge higher prices and earn more profit, but this comes at the expense of consumer surplus and overall economic efficiency.

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10. A monopolist is:

Explanation

A monopolist is a single seller of a product with no close substitutes. This means that the monopolist has exclusive control over the supply of a particular product or service, with no other similar alternatives available in the market. As a result, the monopolist has significant market power and can dictate the price and quantity of the product, leading to potential exploitation of consumers and reduced competition.

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11. Which of the following is true at the profit-maximizing quantity for both a perfectly competitive firm and a monopoly?

Explanation

At the profit-maximizing quantity, both a perfectly competitive firm and a monopoly aim to maximize their profits. In order to do so, they both set their output level where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. This is because at this point, the additional revenue generated from selling one more unit is equal to the additional cost incurred in producing that unit. By setting their output at this point, they can maximize their profits by avoiding any additional costs that would outweigh the revenue gained.

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12. A profit-maximizing monopolist produces an output level at which:

Explanation

The correct answer is that a profit-maximizing monopolist produces an output level at which marginal revenue equals marginal cost. This means that the additional revenue generated from selling one more unit of output is equal to the additional cost incurred in producing that unit. At this level of output, the monopolist is maximizing its profit because it is neither underproducing (where marginal revenue is greater than marginal cost) nor overproducing (where marginal cost is greater than marginal revenue).

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13. In the short run, a monopolist will always shut down when:

Explanation

In the short run, a monopolist will always shut down when total variable cost is greater than total revenue at all output levels. This means that the cost of producing each additional unit of output exceeds the revenue generated from selling that unit. As a result, the monopolist is unable to cover its variable costs and would incur losses by continuing to produce. Therefore, it is more profitable for the monopolist to shut down operations in the short run rather than continuing to operate at a loss.

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14. Barriers to entry:

Explanation

Barriers to entry refer to obstacles or conditions that make it difficult for new firms to enter a market and compete with existing monopolies. These barriers can include high start-up costs, economies of scale, legal restrictions, or exclusive access to resources. By preventing new competitors from entering the market, monopolies can maintain their market power and continue earning profits in the long run. Therefore, the correct answer is that barriers to entry may allow monopolies to earn profit in the long run.

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15. An important difference between a perfectly competitive firm and a monopolist is that:

Explanation

The correct answer is that the perfectly competitive firm faces a horizontal demand curve and the monopolist faces a downward-sloping demand curve. In a perfectly competitive market, there are many buyers and sellers, and each firm is a price taker, meaning it has no control over the price and faces a horizontal demand curve. On the other hand, a monopolist is the sole seller in the market and has control over the price, allowing them to set a higher price and face a downward-sloping demand curve.

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16. A natural monopoly results when a firm has:

Explanation

A natural monopoly occurs when a firm is able to achieve decreasing average costs over the range of market demand. This means that as the firm produces more and more units of a product, the average cost of production decreases. This can be due to economies of scale, where the firm benefits from cost savings as it operates at a larger scale. As a result, the firm is able to produce and sell its product at a lower cost than any potential competitors, making it the most efficient and cost-effective option in the market.

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17. If marginal cost is positive, which of the following is true?

Explanation

A monopolist always produces on the elastic portion of the market demand curve because if the marginal cost is positive, it means that the cost of producing an additional unit of output is increasing. In order to maximize profits, the monopolist will produce at a level where the marginal cost is equal to the marginal revenue. This occurs at the elastic portion of the demand curve, where a small change in price leads to a relatively larger change in quantity demanded. By producing at this point, the monopolist can charge a higher price and still sell a significant quantity of goods, maximizing their profits.

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18. In the short run, how will a profit-maximizing monopolist react if its marginal cost suddenly increases? It will:

Explanation

When a profit-maximizing monopolist faces an increase in marginal cost, it will choose to restrict its output in order to extract a higher price from customers. By reducing the quantity supplied, the monopolist can create artificial scarcity, which allows them to charge a higher price for their product. This strategy helps the monopolist maintain or even increase their profit despite the increase in costs. By limiting the availability of the product, the monopolist can create a sense of exclusivity and higher demand, enabling them to charge a premium price.

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19. The demand curve facing a single-price monopolist:

Explanation

The demand curve facing a single-price monopolist is the same as its average revenue curve because a monopolist is the sole seller in the market and has control over the price. The monopolist faces the entire market demand curve and can set the price at any level. The average revenue curve represents the revenue per unit of output, which is equal to the price for a monopolist. Therefore, the demand curve and average revenue curve are the same for a monopolist.

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20. Which of the following could be true of perfect competition but not of monopoly?

Explanation

In perfect competition, there are no barriers to entry, meaning that new firms can easily enter the market and compete with existing firms. This is not true in a monopoly, where there is only one firm in the market and there are significant barriers to entry, such as high start-up costs, exclusive licenses, or patents. Therefore, the absence of barriers to entry is a characteristic of perfect competition, but not of a monopoly.

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21. For a non-discriminating monopolist, describe the relationship between market price (P), average revenue (AR), and marginal revenue (MR).

Explanation

In the case of a non-discriminating monopolist, the relationship between market price (P), average revenue (AR), and marginal revenue (MR) is that the market price and average revenue are equal, while marginal revenue is less than average revenue. This means that the monopolist is able to set the market price, and since they are the only supplier in the market, they can charge a price higher than the marginal revenue. As a result, the monopolist's average revenue is equal to the market price, but the marginal revenue is lower due to the diminishing returns of selling additional units.

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22. Which of the following is not true of monopolists?

Explanation

Monopolists are typically not concerned about the entry of new firms because they have a dominant position in the market with no direct competition. This allows them to have more control over pricing and profits. However, it is important to note that while the entry of new firms may not be a major concern, it does not mean that monopolists completely ignore it. They may still take measures to deter or limit the entry of new competitors to maintain their monopoly power.

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23. One likely result of monopoly power is:

Explanation

Monopoly power refers to a situation where a single firm has control over a particular market or industry. In such a scenario, the firm has the ability to set prices higher than what would exist in a competitive industry. This is because monopolies face limited or no competition, allowing them to charge higher prices and earn greater profits. Without competition, consumers have fewer options and are forced to pay the higher prices set by the monopoly. Therefore, the likely result of monopoly power is a higher price than what would be seen in a competitive market.

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24. Suppose a monopolist cannot price discriminate. To maximize profit, it will:

Explanation

A monopolist that cannot price discriminate will never produce in the inelastic range of its demand curve because in this range, the demand is relatively insensitive to price changes. This means that even if the monopolist increases the price, the quantity demanded will not decrease significantly, resulting in a smaller change in total revenue. To maximize profit, the monopolist needs to produce where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. Producing in the inelastic range would result in a lower marginal revenue, which would not be optimal for profit maximization.

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25. Firms can earn economic profits even in the long run if:

Explanation

Firms can earn economic profits even in the long run if there are significant barriers to entry. These barriers can prevent new firms from entering the market and competing with existing firms. As a result, the existing firms can maintain their market power and charge higher prices, leading to economic profits. These barriers can include legal restrictions, high start-up costs, patents, and exclusive access to resources or distribution channels.

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26. The demand curve a monopolist uses in making an output decision is:

Explanation

The correct answer is "the same as the market demand curve." A monopolist is the sole producer in the market, so its demand curve is the same as the market demand curve. This means that the monopolist faces the entire market demand for its product and has the ability to set the price based on the quantity it decides to produce.

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27. Negative marginal revenue means that:

Explanation

When marginal revenue is negative, it means that each additional unit of output is generating less revenue than the previous unit. This indicates that total revenue is decreasing as output increases. As the firm produces more goods or services, the additional revenue generated from each unit sold is not enough to compensate for the decrease in price or demand. This suggests that the firm is facing diminishing returns or a decline in market demand, resulting in a decrease in total revenue.

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28. Irving R. Associates is granted a patent for a new product for which there are no close substitutes. Which of the following must be true at the profit-maximizing quantity?

Explanation

In order for Irving R. Associates to maximize profit, the marginal revenue must be positive. This means that for each additional unit sold, the revenue generated is greater than the cost of producing that unit. This is because if the marginal revenue were negative, it would mean that the revenue generated from selling an additional unit is less than the cost of producing it, resulting in a decrease in profit. Therefore, in order to maximize profit, the marginal revenue must be positive.

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29. For which of the following products would price discrimination be easiest? 

Explanation

Price discrimination is easiest for products that have low production costs and high variability in consumer willingness to pay. Haircuts meet these criteria as they can be provided at a relatively low cost and consumers have different preferences and budgets for haircuts. Hair salons can easily offer different prices based on factors such as location, stylist experience, and additional services, allowing them to engage in price discrimination. This is in contrast to products like orange juice, diamonds, compact disks, and gasoline, which have more standardized prices and less room for differentiation.

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30. If a perfectly competitive industry is monopolized, consumer surplus:

Explanation



In perfect competition, consumer surplus is abundant but diminishes under monopoly. Monopoly profit accrues to the monopolist, contributing to the reduction, while deadweight loss further erodes it. Despite these losses, a portion of consumer surplus persists in a monopolistic market.
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31. Suppose that a monopolist must choose between two points on its demand curve: it can sell 100 units for $3 each, or it can sell 140 units for $2 each. Which of the following is true?

Explanation

The monopolist is facing inelastic demand because the price decreases from $3 to $2, but the quantity demanded only increases from 100 units to 140 units. This suggests that the percentage change in quantity demanded is smaller than the percentage change in price, indicating inelastic demand.

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32. A monopolist:

Explanation

A monopolist is constrained by demand in setting price because they have market power and are the sole provider of a particular good or service. They can charge higher prices than in a competitive market, but they still need to consider the demand for their product. If they set a price that is too high, consumers may choose not to purchase their product, resulting in a decrease in demand and potentially lower profits. Therefore, the monopolist must consider the demand elasticity and set a price that maximizes their profits while still attracting customers.

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33. Compared to the productive efficiency of a perfectly competitive firm, a monopolist tends to be:

Explanation

A monopolist tends to be more efficient because it produces greater output. In a perfectly competitive market, firms produce at the point where price equals marginal cost (P=MC), which leads to allocative efficiency. However, monopolists have market power and can set their own price, which allows them to produce at a level where marginal revenue equals marginal cost (MR=MC). This means that monopolists can produce at a higher level of output compared to perfectly competitive firms, resulting in a higher level of productive efficiency.

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34.  As a monopolist increases the quantity of output produced, what happens to price (P) and marginal revenue (MR)?

Explanation

As a monopolist increases the quantity of output produced, both price (P) and marginal revenue (MR) decrease. However, MR falls faster than P. This is because as the monopolist increases production, they have to lower the price in order to sell more units. As a result, the decrease in price is greater than the decrease in marginal revenue, leading to MR falling faster than P. This is a characteristic of monopoly power, where the monopolist has the ability to set prices higher than their marginal revenue.

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35. Non-discriminating monopoly is similar to perfect competition in that:

Explanation

Non-discriminating monopoly is similar to perfect competition in that the price equals average revenue for both. In both market structures, the price charged by the firm is equal to the average revenue it receives per unit of output. This means that each unit sold contributes the same amount to total revenue. However, it is important to note that there are other differences between non-discriminating monopoly and perfect competition, such as barriers to entry and the number of firms in the industry.

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36. A monopolist has no supply curve because:

Explanation

Monopolists can charge any price they want because they have sole control over the market. Unlike in a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand, a monopolist can set the price based on their own profit-maximizing objectives. They have the power to manipulate prices without the constraint of competition, allowing them to charge higher prices and earn higher profits. This lack of competition eliminates the need for a supply curve, as the monopolist can simply choose the price that maximizes their profits.

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37. Natural monopolies form when:

Explanation

Natural monopolies form when long-run average cost declines as a firm expands output. This means that as a firm increases its production, its average cost of producing each unit decreases. This can occur due to economies of scale, where the firm benefits from lower costs per unit as it operates at a larger scale. As a result, the firm becomes more efficient and can offer lower prices compared to smaller firms, making it difficult for competitors to enter the market and compete effectively.

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38. A profit-maximizing monopolist:

Explanation

A profit-maximizing monopolist never produces on the inelastic portion of the demand curve because marginal revenue is negative there. This means that for each additional unit sold, the monopolist's total revenue decreases. To maximize profit, the monopolist would produce at a level where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. However, since marginal revenue is negative on the inelastic portion of the demand curve, producing there would result in a loss rather than a profit. Therefore, the monopolist avoids producing on the inelastic portion of the demand curve.

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Suppose the only professional hockey team within 500 miles is the Salt...
The welfare loss of monopoly is also called:
A monopolist earning short-run economic profit determines that at its...
Which of the following is true of monopoly?
Which of the following prevents potential competitors from entering a...
A profit-maximizing monopolist never produces along the _____ portion...
 In the monopoly market structure, new firms:
Which of the following is true of marginal revenue for a monopolist...
Which of the following is a major criticism of a monopoly as a cause...
A monopolist is:
Which of the following is true at the profit-maximizing quantity for...
A profit-maximizing monopolist produces an output level at which:
In the short run, a monopolist will always shut down when:
Barriers to entry:
An important difference between a perfectly competitive firm and a...
A natural monopoly results when a firm has:
If marginal cost is positive, which of the following is true?
In the short run, how will a profit-maximizing monopolist react if its...
The demand curve facing a single-price monopolist:
Which of the following could be true of perfect competition but not of...
For a non-discriminating monopolist, describe the relationship between...
Which of the following is not true of monopolists?
One likely result of monopoly power is:
Suppose a monopolist cannot price discriminate. To maximize profit, it...
Firms can earn economic profits even in the long run if:
The demand curve a monopolist uses in making an output decision is:
Negative marginal revenue means that:
Irving R. Associates is granted a patent for a new product for which...
For which of the following products would price discrimination be...
If a perfectly competitive industry is monopolized, consumer surplus:
Suppose that a monopolist must choose between two points on its demand...
A monopolist:
Compared to the productive efficiency of a perfectly competitive firm,...
 As a monopolist increases the quantity of output produced, what...
Non-discriminating monopoly is similar to perfect competition in that:
A monopolist has no supply curve because:
Natural monopolies form when:
A profit-maximizing monopolist:
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