Microeconomics ch.14 Oligopoly
Refer to the diagram, where the numerical data show profits in millions of dollars. Beta's profits are shown in the northeast corner and Alpha's profits in the southwest corner of each cell. If Alpha and Beta agree to a high-price policy through collusion, the temptation to cheat on that agreement is demonstrated by the fact that
Beta can increase its profit by lowering its price.
In the United States cartels are
in violation of the antitrust laws.
Oligopolistic firms engage in collusion to
earn greater profits.
Price leadership represents a situation where oligopolistic firms
tacitly collude.
The term oligopoly indicates
a few firms producing either a differentiated or a homogeneous product.
Which of the following industries is an illustration of homogeneous oligopoly?
aluminum
Collusion among oligopolistic firms
becomes more difficult if the firms all have different cost and demand curves.
The kinked-demand curve of an oligopolist is based on the assumption that
competitors will follow a price cut but ignore a price increase.
The diagram portrays:
non-collusive oligopoly.
The kinked-demand curve model of oligopoly is useful in explaining
why oligopolistic prices might change infrequently.