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Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly -- Practice



Multiple Choice -- The  second exam this semester (spring 2012) will not include Game Theory.
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

1. 

Monopolistically competitive industries consist of
a. one firm selling several products   b. one firm selling one product   c. many firms, all selling identical products   d. many firms, each selling a slightly different product   e. many firms, each selling a completely different product
 

2. 

Monopolistically competitive firms ignore the effect of their decisions upon other firms in the industry because
a. each firm is large relative to the market   b. each firm is small relative to the market   c. there are few sellers in the market   d. there is only one seller in the market   e. all firms follow the same known pricing rules
 

3. 

All of the following are examples of product differentiation except one. Which is the exception?
a. developing a new video game or a computer program called "How to Teach Your New Dog Old Tricks"   b. manufacturing a car that minimizes outside noise relative to other cars   c. lowering the price of a good in a special sale   d. providing movies and special meals on airline flights   e. making sodium-free, caffeine-free colas
 

4. 

A firm could differentiate its product by all except one of the following means. Which is the exception?
a. making the product available at a number of different locations   b. increasing the number of services that accompany the product   c. making the product physically different from other products   d. using packaging or advertising to create a special subjective image of the product in the consumer's mind   e. emphasizing that the product provides the same benefits to consumers as the others on the market, even when it's really physically different
 

5. 

The demand curve facing a firm will be more elastic,
a. the fewer the number of competing firms   b. the more differentiated the product   c. the more substitutes there are for its product   d. the greater the firm's ability to control price   e. the larger the profit the firm can make
 
 
monocompoligoppract_files/i0070000.jpg
 

6. 

At the profit-maximizing output, the firm in Exhibit 0157 is earning
a. an economic profit of $38   b. an economic profit, but the amount cannot be determined   c. zero economic profit   d. an economic profit of $32   e. an economic loss
 
 
monocompoligoppract_files/i0090000.jpg
 

7. 

At the profit-maximizing output level, total cost for the firm in Exhibit 0162 is approximately
a. $5,700   b. $5,320   c. $4,750   d. $4,940   e. $8,100
 
 
monocompoligoppract_files/i0110000.jpg
 

8. 

Assume the firm in Exhibit 10-1 is currently charging price P and producing output level Q. In order to maximize profits (or minimize losses), the firm should
a. charge more and sell less   b. charge less and sell more   c. charge less and sell less   d. charge more and sell more   e. continue to charge P and sell Q
 

9. 

Describe the relationship among market price (P), average revenue (AR), and marginal revenue (MR) for a firm in monopolistic competition.
a. P = AR = MR   b. P > AR = MR   c. P = AR > MR   d. P > AR > MR   e. P = AR < MR
 

10. 

In the long run, a monopolistically competitive firm will
a. produce a greater variety of goods than do firms in other market structures   b. produce a greater output level than would a perfectly competitive firm   c. produce where price equals average total cost   d. earn an economic profit   e. suffer a loss because of its advertising budget
 
 
monocompoligoppract_files/i0150000.jpg
 

11. 

Assume that the firm in Exhibit 0161 maximizes profit. Its total revenue is
a. $5,200   b. $4,000   c. $3,600   d. $5,600   e. $3,200
 

12. 

At the profit-maximizing output level, total cost for the firm in Exhibit 0161 is
a. $5,200   b. $4,000   c. $3,600   d. $5,600   e. impossible to determine
 

13. 

As new monopolistically competitive firms enter the market, the demand facing each firm __________, causing the price charged by each firm to __________ . In the long run, each firm will earn a __________ profit.
a. falls; rise; positive   b. rises; fall; positive   c. falls; rise; normal   d. rises; fall; normal   e. falls; fall; normal
 

14. 

Which of the following characteristics does perfect competition share with monopolistic competition?
a. price-taking firms   b. zero long-run economic profit   c. homogeneous product   d. some barriers to entry   e. economies of scale in production
 

15. 

Suppose that firms in a monopolistically competitive industry are earning short-run economic profits. In the long run, the demand curve facing each individual firm can be expected to
a. shift to the left and become flatter   b. shift to the left and become steeper   c. shift to the right and become flatter   d. shift to the right and become steeper   e. remain constant
 

16. 

One difference between perfect competition and monopolistic competition is that
a. in perfect competition, firms can't earn long-run economic profit   b. in perfect competition, firms take full advantage of economies of scale in long-run equilibrium; in monopolistic competition, firms do not   c. only under perfect competition is there ease of entry and exit   d. in monopolistic competition, the firm's demand curve is horizontal; in perfect competition, the firm's demand curve slopes downward   e. in perfect competition, there are many firms; under monopolistic competition, there are few firms
 

17. 

Which of the following is unique to perfect competition?
a. The individual firm cannot earn economic profit in the long run.   b. It is easy for new firms to enter the industry.   c. The market demand curve slopes downward.   d. The demand curve facing an individual firm is perfectly elastic.   e. The firms in the industry produce a homogeneous product.
 

18. 

The automobile, breakfast cereal, and tobacco industries are examples of
a. monopolistic competition   b. oligopoly   c. perfect competition   d. monopoly   e. monopsony
 

19. 

Oligopolists are more sensitive to the pricing and output policies of their rivals when
a. all firms produce identical products   b. their products are highly differentiated   c. there is freedom of entry and exit   d. there are barriers to entry   e. there are many firms in the industry
 

20. 

The defining characteristic of oligopoly is product differentiation.
a. True   b. False
 

21. 

Minimum efficient scale is large relative to the market in oligopoly.
a. True   b. False
 

22. 

Which of the following is not an example of an oligopolistic barrier to entry?
a. diseconomies of scale   b. legal restrictions   c. advertising and brand proliferation   d. high start-up costs   e. control over an essential resource
 

23. 

A cartel's marginal cost curve is the
a. highest of all the individual firms' marginal cost curves   b. lowest of all the individual firms' marginal cost curves   c. horizontal sum of all the individual firms' marginal cost curves   d. average of all the individual firms' marginal cost curves   e. product of all the individual firms' marginal cost curves
 

24. 

Three firms that are successful in colluding to raise their prices must
a. lose profits   b. announce any price changes to the government   c. restrict output   d. increase advertising to earn a profit   e. expand production
 

25. 

A formal agreement among the firms in an industry to coordinate their production and pricing decisions in order to earn monopoly profits is known as
a. price discrimination   b. the kinked demand curve   c. monopolistic competition   d. a cartel   e. joint competition
 

26. 

Each member of a cartel
a. faces a temptation to cheat on the agreement because lowering its price slightly below the established price will usually increase the firm's sales and profit   b. faces a temptation to cheat on the agreement because raising its price slightly above the established price will usually increase the firm's sales and profit   c. has no temptation to cheat on the agreement because lowering its price slightly below the established price will usually have no impact on the firm's sales and profit   d. has no temptation to cheat on the agreement because raising its price slightly above the established price will usually decrease the firm's sales and profit   e. has no temptation to cheat on the agreement because lowering its price slightly below the established price will usually lower the firm's sales and profit
 

27. 

Collusion is easier to achieve and maintain in oligopoly when
a. there are many firms in the industry   b. the firms' products are homogeneous   c. the firms' cost structures are very different   d. there are very weak barriers to entry   e. the industry is located in the United States
 

28. 

One common assumption in game theory is that firms
a. try to avoid the worst outcome   b. try to achieve the best outcome   c. minimize losses   d. always cooperate   e. always compete
 

29. 

The prisoner's dilemma provides an explanation for
a. the price wars that sometimes occur in oligopolies   b. the ability of firms in an oligopoly to extract the entire consumer surplus   c. the collusive behavior that sometimes occurs in an oligopoly   d. the failure of firms in non-competitive industries to maximize profits   e. an irrational behavior that occurs in competitive markets
 

30. 

The tit-for-tat strategy implies that the firms
a. in non-competitive industries match price increases but ignore price decreases   b. will follow the lead of the dominant firm in making pricing decisions   c. prices will change whenever fixed cost changes   d. cooperate on the first round, and then follow your competitors reactions on the second round   e. price will only change if demand changes
 



 
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