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2. Consider an industry where many small firms produce a good under perfect competition but with external economies of scale: i.e. the average cost for
2. Consider an industry where many small firms produce a good under perfect competition but with external economies of scale: i.e. the average cost for each firm declines as the scale of the local industry (the aggregate local production) increases (so if the industry is active in a country, it will be concentrated in a specific location). a) What is a real-world example of an industry like this? Provide the example and explanation of the source for the external economy of scale. Assume there are two countries (Home and Foreign) with the following demand and average cost functions: Home demand QD=a - BP Home average cost AC = co - U Qs Foreign demand QD" = 0' - B* P* Foreign average cost AC* = Co"- H" Qs where variables with * refer to the Foreign country; QD and Qs are the quantities demanded and supplied of the good. The variables o, a*, Co, Co", B, B", J, u* are parameters. A market is in equilibrium when the quantities demanded and supplied are equal and when firms make zero profit (i.e. when the price is equal to the average cost).b) Assume o =8, B =0.5, co=7, u =0.5. Using the demand function, the average cost function and the zero-profit condition, compute (and represent graphically) the equilibrium autarky price P and quantity Q in the Home country when there is no international trade. c) Do the same for the Foreign country assuming o*=3, B* =0.5, co*=7, u* =0.5. d) Suppose now there is free trade and the markets integrate. Using the assumptions in a) and b), compute (and represent graphically) the equilibrium world price Pw, the world total production Qw, and the quantities produced in each country (Q, Q"). Which country will export (which will import) the good and why? How much will be exported (imported)? [Hint: the world demand will be the sum of the two country's demands, i.e. at each price the total quantity demanded is the sum of On and On . This new demand curve has a kink at Pw 26; Consumers from all countries will buy where it is cheaper] e) Let's maintain the assumptions in a) but change the data in c) by assuming demand is the same but the cost function changes so that co*=3, u* = 1/4. How much is produced in Foreign under autarky? Characterize the free trade equilibrium as in d), and briefly explain how and why it differs from the equilibrium in d)
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