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What happens to profit-maximizing price and output levels to a monopolistic competitive firm in the long run?

a) Price decreases, output increases
b) Price increases, output decreases
c) Price and output remain constant
d) Price decreases, output remains constant

User Dungeon
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

In the long run, monopolistic competitors will see a decrease in profit-maximizing price due to increased competition, which leads to zero economic profits and maintains output levels constant.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a monopolistically competitive market, in the long run, the profit-maximizing price and output levels for a firm will change due to market entry by new firms. Initially, a firm may earn positive economic profits; however, these profits attract new entrants into the market, which increases the overall competition. As competition increases, demand for the original firm's product decreases, leading to a decrease in both the firm's profit-maximizing price and output levels. Ultimately, the firm's economic profits are eroded, and it will reach a point where it earns zero economic profits in the long-run equilibrium. Therefore, the correct response to what happens to profit-maximizing price and output levels is (a) Price decreases, output remains constant.

User Carl Colijn
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