In: Economics
In 2009, the price of Amazon's Kindle 2 was $430 in today's dollars, while iSuppli estimated that its marginal cost was $191 in today's dollars.
a. What was Amazon's price/marginal cost ratio?
b. What was Amazon's Lerner index?
c. What price elasticity of demand did it face if it was engaging in short-run profit maximization?
We have the following information
Price (P) = $430
Marginal cost (MC) = $191
Part a) Price-Marginal Cost ratio = 430/191 = 2.25
Part b) Lerner Index = (P – MC)/P
Lerner Index = (430 – 191)/191
Lerner Index = 239/191
Lerner Index = 1.25
Part c) Lerner Index = (P – MC)/P = – 1/Ed
Ed = Elasticity of demand
(430 – 191)/191 = – 1/Ed
239/191 = – 1/Ed
1.25 = – 1/Ed
Elasticity of Demand = – 0.8