In: Economics
2. A monopoly with constant marginal costs of $10 can sell to two groups of potential consumers, with demands Q1=100-p, Q2=100-2p respectively.
a. Find the optimal price-quantity combination in each market if the firm is able to price-discriminate. (10 pts)
b. Find the consumer surplus for group 1 and group 2 with price
discrimination. (5 pts)
c. Find the optimal price-quantity combination if the firm is not
able to price-discriminate. (10 pts)
d. Find the consumer surplus for group 1 and group 2 without price discrimination. (5 pts)
2. A monopoly with constant marginal costs of $10 can sell to two groups of potential consumers, with demands Q1=100-p, Q2=100-2p respectively. Inverse demand functions are P1 = 100 - Q1 and P1 = 50 - 0.5Q1
This implies the respective marginal revenues are
TR1 = P1Q1 = 100Q1 - Q1^2..........MR1 = 100 - 2Q1
TR2 = P2Q2 = 50Q2 - 0.5Q2^2 ......MR2 = 50 - Q2
Combined demand is Q = 100 - P + 100 - 2P or Q = 200 - 3P. Inverse demand is P = 200/3 - Q/3. MR = 200/3 - 2Q/3.
a. Find the optimal price-quantity combination in each market if the firm is able to price-discriminate.
In that case, it will charge different prices according to MR = MC rule
MR1 = MC and MR2 = MC
100 - 2Q1 = 10 and 50 - Q2 = 10
This gives Q1 = 90/2 = 45 units and Q2 = 40 units
Prices are P1 = 100 - 45 = $55 and P2 = 50 - 0.5*40 = $30.
b. Find the consumer surplus for group 1 and group 2 with price discrimination.
CS = 0.5*(max price - current price)*qty
CS1 = 0.5*(100 - 55)*45 = 1012.50
CS2 = 0.5*(50 - 30)*40 = 400
c. Find the optimal price-quantity combination if the firm is not
able to price-discriminate.
Firm will charge a single price
MR = MC
200/3 - 2Q/3 = 10
Q = 85 units and P = 200/3 - 85/3 = $38.33
Q1 = 100 - 38.33 = 61.67 units and Q2 = 100 - 2*38.33 = 23.34 units
d. Find the consumer surplus for group 1 and group 2 without price discrimination.
CS1 = 0.5*(100 - 38.33)*61.67 = 1901.60
CS2 = 0.5*(100 - 38.33)*23.34 = 719.68