Firm Alpha operates in a perfectly competitive market in a constant-cost industry and is earning negative economic profit.

1. How does Firm Alpha determine its profit-maximizing quantity of output? Explain.
3. Draw correctly labeled side-by-side graphs for Firm Alpha and the market it operates in. Label the axes and all of the following:
4. Market price (PE) and market quantity (QE)
5. The firm's quantity of output (Qe)
6. The firm's average total cost (ATC)
8. Completely shade the area of the firm's total cost.
10. Identify whether the following increase, decrease, or remain constant as the market moves to long-run equilibrium:
11. Market equilibrium quantity
12. Market equilibrium price
14. Assume the product that Firm Alpha produces has a negative externality. Draw the marginal social cost (MSC) on the market graph from part (b).
16. Will the unregulated market produce more or less than the socially optimal quantity?
18. Label the socially optimal quantity (Qso) for the market on your graph from part (b).