In: Economics
Suppose that market demand for a good is Q = 480 - 2p. The marginal cost is MC = 2Q. Calculate the following in the context of a monopoly market. a) Profit maximizing price and quantity. b) Market power. c) Consumer surplus and producer surplus. d) Dead Weight Loss (DWL).
Q = 48 - 2p
2p = 48-Q
p = 24 - 0.5Q
Mc = 2Q
a) Profit maximizing price and quantity is where MR = MC
MR = d(TR)/dQ
TR = P*Q = 24Q - 0.5Q2
MR = 24 -Q
MR = MC
24-Q = 2Q
24 = 3Q
8 =Q
P = 24 -0.5*8 = $20
MC =2*8 = 16
b) Market power = (P-MC)/ P = (20-16)/20 = 4/20 = 0.2 = 20%
c) P = 24 -0.5Q
When Q = 0, P = 24
Consumer surplus = (1/2)*(24-20)*8
= $16
When Q = 0. MC = 0
Producer surplus = (1/2)*(20-0)*8 = $80
d) Dead weight loss = (1/2)*(20-Pc)*(Qc-8)
Pc = price of competitive market
In competitive market,
P = MC
24-0.5Q = 2Q
24 = 2.5Q
Qc = 9.6
Pc = 24-0.5*9.6
= 19.2
Dead weight loss = (1/2)*(20-19.2)*(9.6-8) = $0.64