Three (3) identical firms produce widgets. Each firm faces a constant marginal cost of $10 per widget, and has fixed costs of $15,000. The firms compete by selecting quantities (Cournot Competition). Inverse demand in the market is given by the equation,

P=50Q,100

wherePrepresents the market price andQis the total quantity produced by the three firms.

Required:

1. (a)Derive the total cost function for the typical firm. (Hint: UseQAto represent the
2. quantity produced by this firm.)
3. (2 marks)
4. (b)Derive the profit function for the typical firm. (Hint: UseXto represent the com-

bined production of the remaining two firms.)

(c)Derive the best response function for the typical firm.

1. (d)Find the equilibrium quantity of the typical firm.
2. (e)Find the equilibrium market price and the profits of the typical firm.

(3 marks)

(3 marks)

(2 marks)

(3 marks)

(f)Explain how would you expect the structure of this market to change over time.