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Consider a single firm facing inverse demand function p=100-10q where q is the q

ID: 1167571 • Letter: C

Question

Consider a single firm facing inverse demand function
p=100-10q
where q is the quantity of the good produced and p is the price for the good.
The firm has linear cost function C(q)=10q .

Suppose now there are two firms facing inverse demand function
p = 100 - 10Q
where Q=q_1 + q _ 2 is the total quantity of the good produced and p is the price for the good.
Each firm has linear cost function C(q) = 10q .

Compare the monopoly price in Q1, call it p^M , to the competitive equilibrium price in Q2, call it p^CE,
What is p^M - p^CE

Explanation / Answer

Finding price in monopoly

P = 100 – 10q Hence, Marginal Revenue = 100 – 20q

Marginal Cost = 10q + 10 – 10q = 10

Marginal Cost = Marginal Revenue

10 = 100 – 20q

20q = 90 Therefore, q = 90 / 20 = 4.5

P = 100 – 10q = 100 – 45 = 55

Finding price in competitive equilibrium

Demand = Marginal Cost

10 = 100 – 10(q1 + q2)

q1 = q2

Hence, 10 = 100 – 20q1 or q2

Solving as above we get q1 = q2 = 4.5

Price = 100 – 10(4.5 + 4.5) = 100 – 90 = 10

P^M – P^CE = 55 – 10 = 45