In what ways can a government create a monopoly? Why might a
government do this?
In what ways can a government create a monopoly? Why might a
government do this?
Solutions
Expert Solution
We know that a monopoly is a market structure characterized by
a single firm selling unique goods and services and controlling the
whole market.
This monopoly power is sometimes provided by the government
through various rules and regulations. The government imposed taxes
slowly wipes off competition as small firms will be unable to meet
the higher production cost, thereby leaving back only the strongest
one in the market.
Governments also provide subsidies that encourages more
monopoly power as customers are drawn towards a monopoly firm when
the government is providing them subsidies.
Various trade barriers like patents, intellectual property,
tariffs, copyrights etc imposed by the government can also help
firms in achieving monopoly power.
The government creates monopoly mostly when it needs to protect
those firms who wish to eliminate competition and those firms who
are undergoing innovations. They also create monopoly in order to
achieve greater economies of scale as it can protect the customers
by keeping the prices low.
In what ways might the behaviour of Microsoft, increasingly
becoming a monopoly in the software and operating systems market,
be deemed to be:
(i) against the public interest;
(ii) in the public interest
Explain what might cause a government to allow monopoly,
except in cases on public utilities, given the adverse effect of
such market to the consumers and the public in
general.
What are the advantages for a government to keep their currency
weak, that is, why might governments intentionally devalue their
own currency? What is the term for a government intentionally
keeping their exchange rate in a certain place?
What are the four most important ways a firm becomes a
monopoly? Will a monopoly that maximizes profit also be maximizing
revenue? Will it be maximizing output? Explain.
Why do governments create temporary monopolies by
granting patents? A monopoly imposes costs on consumers in the form
of higher prices and less output supplied. So why would governments
impose this?