If the firms in a monopolistically competitive market are earning economic profits in the short run, would you expect them to continue doing so in the long run? Monopolisitc companies cannot earn economic profits in the long run unless government regulations help them achieve their goal of economic profits. They will always be able to earn economic profits in the long run. They will be unable to earn economic profits in the long run They can continue to do so in the long run if new entries cannot completely erase the differentiation in their product