Final answer:
A monopolist may accept a less-than-maximum per-unit profit primarily to avoid government regulation and maintain market dominance. Additionally, strategic pricing and goodwill considerations can influence this decision, ensuring a balance between profit maximization and regulatory compliance.
Step-by-step explanation:
A monopolist might accept a less-than-maximum per-unit profit for a variety of strategic reasons. One such reason is to avoid government regulation. When a monopolist chooses a price that is lower than the maximum potential, it can prevent triggering antitrust actions, and maintain market dominance without attracting regulatory scrutiny.
Another reason may include preserving a goodwill relationship with consumers or a strategic decision like price skimming where prices are gradually lowered over time to maximize revenue from different market segments. Additionally, market dominance can be maintained through lower prices for the monopolist to deter new entrants and to preserve or expand its customer base.