Micro Chapter 17 【Oligopoly】

1. Characteristics of oligopoly
An oligopolistic market structure is distinguished by several characteristics, one of which is either similar or identical products. Which of the following are other characteristics of this market structure? Check all that apply.
2. Deviating from the collusive outcome
Mays and McCovey are beer-brewing companies that operate in a duopoly (two-firm oligopoly). The daily marginal cost (MC) of producing a can of beer is constant and equals $0.40 per can. Assume that neither firm had any startup costs, so marginal cost equals average total cost (ATC) for each firm. Suppose that Mays and McCovey form a cartel, and the firms divide the output evenly.
3. Breakdown of a cartel agreement
Consider a town in which only two residents, Van and Amy, own wells that produce water safe for drinking. Van and Amy can pump and sell as much water as they want at no cost. For them, total revenue equals profit. The following table shows the town's demand schedule for water.

4. Game theory terminology
Select the term that best describes each definition listed in the following table.
5. To advertise or not to advertise
Suppose that Expresso and Beantown are the only two firms that sell coffee. The following payoff matrix shows the profit (in millions of dollars) each company will earn depending on whether or not it advertises:

6. Using a payoff matrix to determine the equilibrium outcome
Suppose there are only two firms that sell tablets: Padmania and Capturesque. The following payoff matrix shows the profit (in millions of dollars) each company will earn, depending on whether it sets a high or low price for its tablets.
7. Solving for dominant strategies and the Nash equilibrium
Suppose Tim and Alyssa are playing a game in which both must simultaneously choose the action Left or Right. The payoff matrix that follows shows the payoff each person will earn as a function of both of their choices. For example, the lower-right cell shows that if 

8. Collusive outcome versus Nash equilibrium
Consider a remote town in which two restaurants, All-You-Can-Eat Café and GoodGrub Diner, operate in a duopoly. Both restaurants disregard health and safety regulations, but they continue to have customers because they are the only restaurants within 80 miles of town. Both restaurants know that

9. Antitrust laws
Cooperation among oligopolies runs counter to the public interest because it leads to underproduction and high prices. In an effort to bring resource allocation closer to the social optimum, public officials attempt to force oligopolies to compete instead of cooperating.

10. Questionable business practices according to antitrust agencies
Complete the following table by indicating whether each of the scenarios describes the concept of tying, resale price maintenance, or predatory pricing.