| preferred AP College board partner for AP classes
AP Microeconomics/Unit 4: Imperfect Competition
Start Practice TestPractice Test
About Exam
hard
Average-Cost Pricing for a Natural Monopoly
< Prev
Next >

Why might regulating a natural monopoly by requiring price to equal average total cost lead to short-run losses?

A

Because such regulation forces the firm into a mode of overproduction in an attempt to achieve economies of scale that never materialize, thereby saturating the market unexpectedly.

B

Because the imposed regulation encourages aggressive price discrimination tactics that misalign the firm’s cost-structure, resulting in suboptimal pricing and chronic short-run losses.

C

Because regulation typically compels the firm to abandon its efficient production techniques in favor of more capital-intensive methods that are less competitive and more expensive in the short run.

D

Because the natural monopoly’s high fixed costs mean that even when price covers average total cost, the revenue may not be sufficient to cover variable costs in the short run, leading the firm to incur losses.

Hint
Did You Know?
Explain Why
Explain All Answers
Check Answer
Show Correct Answer
Report Question

Question Leaderboard

Not enough data yet to show leaderboard.

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

AI Tutor

How can I help?

APFIVE © 2020.
Email: [email protected]|Privacy Policy