Question
Consider the markets for fast food in Norway and Sweden. Each fast food restaurant sells its own differentiated variety (e.g. McDonalds sells burgers, Taco Bell
Consider the markets for fast food in Norway and Sweden. Each fast food restaurant sells its own differentiated variety (e.g. McDonalds sells burgers, Taco Bell sells tacos, Sbarro sells terrible pizza), and the sizes of the fast food markets in Norway and Sweden are fixed such that consumers in each country demand the fixed quantities of fast food QNW and QSW . Firms in both countries have the identical average costs of AC = F n Q + c. Since this market is monopolistically competitive, its equilibrium can be characterized by two conditions, which will hold in both countries: The fact that firms maximize profits implies they produce such that marginal revenue equals marginal cost, which implies firms set prices such that P = 1 bn + c, And since firms can freely enter and exit the market, profits will be zero in equilibrium and revenue per unit will thus equal cost per unit, or P = F n Q + c. Here, b is a demand parameter equal to 1, n is the number of firms, c is the marginal cost of $2 per meal, and F is a fixed cost of $10 (the fixed costs of starting a fast food business are low in Scandinavia). Suppose Norway and Sweden open up their fast food markets, which creates an integrated market between the two countries of size QT otal = QNW + QSW = 25,000. Solve for the equilibrium number of firms in this integrated market (n ) and the equilibrium price (P ). d. What is the effect of trade on the price of fast food? What was the effect of trade on the total number of firms, and thus the number of fast food varieties available to consumers?
Step by Step Solution
There are 3 Steps involved in it
Step: 1
Get Instant Access to Expert-Tailored Solutions
See step-by-step solutions with expert insights and AI powered tools for academic success
Step: 2
Step: 3
Ace Your Homework with AI
Get the answers you need in no time with our AI-driven, step-by-step assistance
Get Started