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1. Suppose a monopoly has the following production function: q = f(K, L) The rate of return on capital (s) is, by definition, operating profits
1. Suppose a monopoly has the following production function: q = f(K, L) The rate of return on capital (s) is, by definition, operating profits (revenue less wage costs) divided by the value of capital: pf(K, L) WL K S = where w is the wage rate, p is the price of the firm's output (which depends on q). (a) Write down the firm's profit maximizing problem and determine the first-order conditions for the firm's optimal choice of L and K (denote the cost of a unit of capital by r). Interpret these conditions. (b) Say the government is concerned about the DWL associated with the monopoly, and therefore imposes a form of rate of return regu- lation whereby the firm cannot earn a rate of return on its capital any higher than 5. Write down the firm's profit maximization problem subject to the regulatory constraint. Denoting the La- grangian multiplier associated with the regulatory constraint by 1, why must 0)
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