In: Economics
Suppose that Saudi Arabia lets other members of OPEC sell all
the oil they want at the existing price which the Saudis set and
other members accept. The daily world demand for OPEC oil is given
by:
P = 88 – 2Q
where P is the price per barrel of oil and Q the total quantity of
OPEC oil (in millions of barrels per day). The supply function for
other members of OPEC who behave like a “competitive fringe” is
given by:
Qr = .6P
The Saudis’ cost of production of oil is given by:
TCs = 15Qs +20
where Qs is the daily output of oil produced by the Saudis.
Calculate the price that Saudi Arabia will set to maximize its own
profit. Also calculate the optimal output and profit of the Saudis.
Determine the output produced by other members of the OPEC as well
as the total market output.