UNIT 9 THEORY OF MONOPOLY

Structure

9.0 Objectives
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Causes of Monopoly
9.3 Denla~ldand Marginal Revenue Curve under Monopoly
9.4 Pricing and Output Decisions under Monopoly
9.5 Long Run Equilibrium of a Monopoly Firm
9.6 Some Questions Regarding the Behaviour of a Monopolist
9.6.1 Does a Monopolist Always Make Profits?
9.6.2 Does a Monopolist Always Benefit from a Price Rise?
9.6.3 Does a Monopolist have a Unique Supply Curve?
9.6.4 Does a Monopolist Produce With Optimum Scale of Plant?
9.6.5 1s Monopoly Compatible With Falling or Constant Marginal Cost'?
9.6.6 Is Monopoly an Inefficient 'Type of Market Structure?
9.7 Price Discri~ninationunder Monopoly
9.7.1 Degree of Price Discrimination
9.7.2 Conditions for Price Discrimination
9.7.3 Equilibrium under Price Discrimination
9.8 Equilibrium Price and Output ofa Public Monopoly
9.8. I Marginal-cost Pricing
9.8.2 Average-cost Pricing
9.8.3 A Note on Mark-up Pricing
9.9 Let Us Sum Up
9.10 Key Words
9.1 1 Some llsefi~lBooks
9.12 Hints and Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

9.0 OBJECTIVES
An earlier unit (Unit 8) has already covered pricing and output decisions in one
extreme foun of market, that is, perfect competition. In this unit. s s t ~ ~ of
d ysuch
decisions is taken up in another extreme form ofmarket, that is, in monopoly. where
there is only a single seller.
Allelegoing through the unit, you should be able to:
define monopoly:
describe the causes why ~llonopoliesemerge;
discuss the demand and the cost conditions, and the pricing and o~tputdecisions
under monopoly;
explain the short-run and the long-nln equilibrium of a monopoly tirm:
 'l'hcury of Monopoly

I
describe various features and pricing techniques of apublic monopoly.

9.1 JNTRODUCTION
In general, monopoly is said to exist if there is one and only one seller Qroducer)
of aproduct for which there is no close substitutes; this single seller is unaffected
by the prices and outputs of other products sold in the economy. The stress in
this definition is on absence of close substitutes. To understand this remember
that one can often find substitutes, for goods and services. For example, if one
i wants to travel by train. Indian Railway is the only option available. In that sense,
I Indian Railways is a monopoly concern. However, there are other modes of
transport, such as roadways and airlines to travel from one place to another.
t
Substitutes to Indian Railways are available but close substitutesare lacking. Thus.
Indian Railways meet our definition of monopoly. The followingconditions prevail
in monopoly market:

a) There is only one seller (i.e., producer) in the market but there are large number
of buyers.
b) The product of the seller may be homogeneous, or, there may be differentiated
products but without close substitutes. When close substitutes are not
available, it imp1ies that the cross-elasticity of demand between the product
of a i~lonopolistand products of other firms is very low.
c) There is no free entry to the market. Entry may be restricted by the natural
factors such as control of raw materials, by legal and institutional factors such
as patent rights or by technological factors such as the eflicienisy of large scale
production.
If all these conditions are met simultaneously, the market structure is referred to as
monopoly. The monopoly. like the perfect competition, is more or less, an
hypothetical situation because some of the above conditions may not be met in
practice.

- - -- - - - -

9.2 CAUSES OF MONOPOLY

For monopoly to exist. there must be some way to keep competitors out of the
industry. Among the barriers that perpetuate monopoly are (i) patents and
licensing by government agencies, (ii) control ofraw material supplies, (iii) the
establishment of brand names, (iv) pricing policy designed to keep rivals out of
the industiy. (v) large capital investn~entnecessary to enter the industry, and (vi)
size of the market. The above factors may be grouped under three headings:
(a) natural. (b) legal and institutional, and (c) technological. Natural factors relates
to the ability of the monopolist to co~ltrolthe supply of raw material ;for example,
ownership of sites having concentration of deposits. Now a days, legal and
institutional barriers and technological barriers have acquired greater importance
for the gr6wtl1of monopoly. Pemlits and other legal rights granted by the government
restrict the ciltry of others in the business. Patent rights to protect productive
techniques or products are other examples of legal factors. Awarding of an exclusive
franchise to serve a market leads to monopoly situation. The most important one
in the category of technical barriers is the efficiency of large scale production,
particularly. when the size ofthe market is not very large. The economies of large
Marker Structurc scale production enable an existing firm to expand its level of output and to gain
from the cost reductions. The minimum cost of production occurs at a rate of
output more than sufficient to supply the entire market at a price covering full cost.
New firms find it unprofitable to compete with an established large firm in such
circumstances. Monopoly is inevitable in industries that require to install elaborate
network of pipes or cables for taking its product or service to consumers such
as water supply, electricity, telegraph and telephone.

9.3 DEMAND AND MARGINAL REVENUE CURVE

UNDER MONOPOLY
You have noted earlier ( in Unit 8) that under perfect competition,price and marginal
revenue are same, since each firm accepts the price determined in the market (by
the market forces of demand and supply). However, the demand curve facing the
monopolist is the industry demand curve. Remember that there is a single firm
producing the commodity and thus there is no difference between a firm' and an
industry. The market demand curve generally slopes downward to the right
(except for the rare case of Giffen good). Demand, marginal revenue and elasticity
have already been explained in earlier units (Units 4 and 5). There is need to probe
a little farther into the relationshipsamong them to get some usehl propositions.
When demand curve is negatively sloped, marginal revenue curve lies below it
suggesting that the marginal revenue falls at a faster rate than that of average revenue.
If demand curve is linear, i.e., straight line, marginal revenue falls at twice the rate
of average revenue. For example, as price goes down by Re. 1 at a time, marginal
revenue goes down by Rs.2 at a time (see Fig. 9.1)
AR, MR
Fig. 9.1

Fig. 9.1 shows inverse relationship between price o f a commodity and its quantity
demanded. The monopolist alone constitutes the entire industry. Therefore,
her demand curve coincides with the industry demand curve, that i s , i t i s
downwards sloping. I n other words, a monopolist can sell larger quantities at
relatively lower prices only. Also note that as price falls from OF to OE, the
marginal revenue declines from OF to OH But, EH =2EF. Therefore, M R falls
twice as sharply as AR.
 Theory of Monopol?
Let us recapitulate the relationshipamong average revenue (AR), marginal revenue
(MR) and elasticity (e), namely, MR=AR - AR / e = AR( 1 - 1 / e ). If e > 1, as
we lower the price, total revenue increases. Since marginal revenue is the addition
to total revenue, it follows that marginal revenue must be positive. If, on the other
hand. total revenue falls with lower price, e < d and marginal revenue must be
negative. If e = 1, total revenue does not change with a change in price, marginal
revenue must be zero. Thus, we can say that, when MR > 0, then e > 1; when
MR=O, then e = 1. and when MR < 0, then e < 1. This is shown in the Fig. 9.2.

Fig. 9.2

Fig. 9.2: Restates relationship between AR, MRand elasticity of demand. Recall that
elasticity at any point on the demand curve is the ratio of its lower segment to
the upper. Also note that when elasticity is unity, MRdrops down to zero. If
point E is on the demand curve AB, then over the range EB, e <I,at E, e = I and
over EA, e > 1.

Using the above formula, if e > 1, say 2, when MR = AR - AR / 2, and so MR is

positive.Ife= l , t h e n M R = A R - A R / l =O. I f e < 1,say %,thenMR=AR-
AR / 112 = AR - 2AR < 0; and so MR is negative.

9.4 PRICINGAND OUTPUT DECISIONS UNDER

MONOPOLY
The pricing and output decisions of a monopolist are arrived at the same way as
that ofaperfectly competitive firm. That is, the monopolist wants to maximise profit
in the long run. In the short run, the producer attempts to maximise the difference
between total revenue and total cost, provided that variable costs Ge covered.
At the outset, it may be noted that monopolist will not determine the output of
her product at any level where the elasticity of demand is less than unity. As
discussed above, if e < 1, MR is negative. The total revenue can be increased by
restricting output. Since marginal cost is always positive, a reduction in output
will reduce total cost. Thus, profits must rise as output is reduced (or price is
raised). here fore, a monopolist cannot be in equilibrium if elasticity of demand is
less than one.
To sum up the above discussion,a monopolist's equilibrium will always be where
the elasticity of denland for her product is greater than one. A profit-maximising
monopolist will never sell at a price where demand is inelastic. She will operate in
XlrrLet Structure its elastic range. In the short-run, given the assumption ofprofit maximisation. the
equilibrium position ofthe monopolist is deduced €rom the cost and revenue fimnctiom.
The equilibrium conditions for a firm discussed in earlierunits apply to n~onopoly
film also. A monopoly firm will be in equilibrium when (a) MR ofthe firm is equal
to its MC, and (b) MC curve intersects the MR curve from below. In the short-
run, marginal cost curve reflects the relationship between marginal cost and
change in output from given plant and other facilities.

Fig. 9.3

AC, MC, Price

I I

0 X Quantity

Fig.9.3 shows short run equilibrium of the monopolist firm. The usual ~ p d i t i o n of
equilibrium, rising M C cuts MR from below applies to the monopolist as well.
However, this firm is able to charge the highest price that the consumer may be
willing to pay. The level of output is determined at OX, the point that coincides
with the ordinate of the point of intersection of MR and M C curves. At illis level
of output, the maximum price that consumers are willing to pay is OP and the
monopolist charges this very price to masimise his profits.

Fig. 9.3 depicts average revenue (AR) and marginal revenue (MR) curves, average
total cost curve (SRAC) and marginal cost curve (SRMC) respectively. The
equilibrium occurs at pokt E where both the conditions ofequilibrium. i.e. MR
equals SRMC and SRMC intersects MR from below are met. l'he equilibrium
output and price are OX and OP. This shows that price is greater than average
costs, and so a profit is being made. It also tells that profits are being maximised.
since MC and MR are equal. If output were to increase beyond OX. the addition
to total cost would be greater than the additions to total revenue. resulting in a .
decrea~eof profit. If output were less than OX, the additions to total revenue
would be greater than the addition to total cost and profit would increase by
expanding output. So, profits are maximised at OX and are shown by the rectangle
PABC in the Fig. 9.3 above.

9.5 LONG-RUN EQUILIBRIUM OF A MONOPOLY

FIRM
111the long riun.ainonopolist has to determine whether a plant of different size and
thus a different price and output combination will enable him to earn larger profit.
For this pui-pose, she will consider long-run marginal cost w l ~ i c reflects
l~ the cost
associated with a change in output when all factors, including the scale of plant, Theory of Monopoly .
vary. A profit-maximising monopoly will be in equilibrium at that level of output
where long-run marginal cost and long run marginal revenue are equal and long-run
marginal cost intersects corresponding marginal revenue curve from below. Such
long-mn equilibrium for the firm must also imp$ short-run equilibrium. The firm,
therefore, makes the choice of the size of its plant in such a way that (i) AR 2
AC, i.e., it gets positive profit, or, (ii) AR = AC, it gets no 'extra', profit.
Situation like AR < AC is ruled out in the long period (Why?) . In apure monopoly,
no potential com&titor can enter the market, by definition, and thus economic profit
cannot be eliminated even in the long-run.
Check Your Progress 1
What do you understand by monopoly? What conditions must prevail for
monopoly to be established?

...................................................................................................................
What are the conditions that might give rise to a monopoly?
#

...................................................................................................................
The demandcurve facing a n~onopolistis downward sloping, Explain.

Discuss the relationshipbetween average revenue curve and marginal revenue

curve of a monopoly firm.

Draw a linear demand curve and its associated marginal revenue curve. State
the formula that relates marginal revenue, price and elasticity of demand, and
explain how the curves illustrate the relationship identified by the formula.

...................................................................................................................
C

A monopolist is not free to determine-both price and quantity to be sold

accordingto her whims and fancy. Explain.
M a r k e t Structure 7) Explain how price is determined under simple monopoly?
'

~-~

...................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................
8) Discuss the determinationof price and output of a monopoly firm in the long-
ml.

9.6 SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THE

BEHAVIOCTR OF MONOPOLIST
Some questions might arise in your mind regarding the behaviour of a monopolist.
For example, (a) does a monopolist always make profits? (b) does a monopolist
always benefit from a price rise? (c) does a monopolist have unique supply curve?
(d) does a monopolist, since she is the only producer in the industry, produce with
the optimuni scale of plant at optimum rate of output? (e) is monopoly
compatible with a downward-sloping/constant marginal cost curve? (f) is
monopoly an inefficient type of market structure? These questions will be
discussed in turn.
9.6.1 Does a Monopolist Always Make Profits?
There is certainly no reason to believe that the monopolist always makes aprofit. If,
demand is sufficiently low relative to cost, the monopolist may incur a loss. For .
example, in the foIlowing Fig. 9.4, AC curve is above the demand curve (AR) at
the point of equilibrium. The firm is incurring losses as shown by the rectangle
ABCD. fi

AC, MC, Price Fig. 9.4

Fiz. 9.4 shows a situation where the monopoly firm may be forced to toleratesome 'loss'
in theshort r h . I t will continue to produce so long as AR> AVC. If demand
curveslides lower, the firm will be forced toshut down even in the short run. If,
in the long run, the firm is able to adjust its plant to the size o f the market
demand, well and good. Otherwise, it has no option but to quit.
 In such a situation, a monopoly firm will go out of the business in the long-run unless Theory O T Monopoly

it switches over to an appropriate sized plant. In the short-run, it stays in the

business if it is able to cover its variable cost. If the equilibrium price is less than the
average variable cost, the monopoly firm will close down its plant even in the
short-runjust like aperfectly competitive firm.
9.6.2 Does a Monopolist Always Benefit from a Rise in Price?
As explained above, a price rise ( and thus, a reduction in output ) would invariably
benefit the monopolist if she operates over the range of demand curve where the
elasticity of demand is less than unity. In case elasticity is less than one, marginal
revenue is negative. rise in price causes fall in demand which results in rise in total
revenue on the one hand and fall in total cost (assuming marginal cost is positive)
- on the other. Thus, rise in price is beneficial to the monopolist if e < 1.
However, if the monopolist is operating in the elastic rang,e of demand, the
marginal revenue is positive when price' is raised in this range, total revenue as well
as total cost falls. Rise in price would be beneficial if fall in total cost is more than fall
in total revenue. Otherwise, the producer may have to lower prices to increase
profits.
9.6.3 Does a Monopolist have a Unique Supply Curve?
The monopoly firm does not have a unique supply curve since price is not equal to
the marginal cost. Given a marginal cost, the same quantity may be offered at
different prices depending on the price elasticity of demand. This can be said as the
same quantity will be sold at different prices depending on the elasticities of various
possible demand curves. Similarly,at the same price, different quantities would be '
supplied depending on the elasticities of the demand curve. Thus, there is no unique
relationship between price and quantity.
9.6.4 Does a Monopolist Produce with Optimum Scale of Plant
at Optimum Rate of Output?
Whether a monopolist produces with optimum scale of plant at the optimum rate
of output depends upoil the position of the market demand curve relative to the
cost curves of the firm. Given cost curve, the scale of plant depends upon the
position of the market demand curve and its associated marginal revenue curve.
Since the entry of new firm is blocked, there is no pressure for the monopolist to
reach an optimal scale or to use her existing plant at optimum. It is not necessary
for the monopolist to reach the minimum point of LAC. The size of plant and
degree of utilisation of any given plant size depend entirely on the market demand.
A producer may reach the minimum point of LAC (optimal scale), remain at falling
part of LAC (less than optimal scale), or expand beyond the minimum LAC
(greater than optimal scale) depending on the market conditions.
It may be noted that because of entry barriers under monopoly, there are
absence of market forces which compel the firms to operate 8optimum plant size
and utilise it at its full capacity in the long run. Any of the above case can occur
depending on the size of the market.
9.6.5 Is Monopoly Compatible with Falling/Constant
Marginal Cost ?
Perfect competition is incompatible with a continuously downward-sloping /
constant marginal cost curve. The marginal cost curve of the perfect competitive
firm must rise at the point of equilibrium output.. But this need not be so in case
M a r k e t Structure ofmonopoly.A monopolistic fm can be in equilibriumwith rising, falling or constant
marginal costsprovided that (a) marginal cost is equal to marginal revenue, and (b)
marginal cost curve shall cut marginal revenue from below.
Fig. 9.5 depicts the equilibrium of a monopolist firm whose marginal costs are
constant and are equal to average costs.
Monopoly equilibrium is also possible with falling marginal costs to ensure that the
marginal cost curve cuts the marginal revenue curve from below. Moreover. the
marginal cost must not be falling more rapidly than marginal revenue. To sum up,
equilibriumunder monopoly can occur whether marginal costs are rising, falling or
constant. The only situation in whichmonopoly equilibrium is impossible is where
rriarginal costs are falling more swiftly than marginal revenue.
AC, MC, MR, AR Fig. 9.5

0 X Quantity
Fig. 9.5: Shows a special case where MC =AC =constant. The monopolists equilibrium
is still at point E where MC cuts MR from below. 'The firm produces OX output
and sells it at O P ( = AR) price.

9.6.6 Is Monopoly an Inefficient Type of Market Structure?

Monopoly is an inefficient type of market structure in the sense that gains to the
firm from a lllonopoly position. its ability to charge higher price than the nlarginal
cost, would be less than the loss of consumer's surplus due to rise in price. The
difference between the gains to the firm and the loss of consumer's surplus on
account of higher price under monopoly is termed as dead-weight loss.
AC, MC, AR, MR
1 Fig. 9.6

Fig.9.6: There are two prices, the competitive price, PCand the monopolist's price,
P,,. The loss ofconsumer's surplus attributable to the higher monopoly price
is the sum of rectangular area, PmAEIAPcand the triangle EIE2A.But gain to
the monopolist isconfined to the rectangle only. The consumer 's loss equal to
the triangle referred to above is 'dead weight loss'. Also note that the consumer
is worse off in one more sense : she has to remain contented with a smaller
quantity under monopoly than was available in perfect competition.
 T h e o r y of Monopol!

A monopolist can increase profit through price discrimination. Price discrimination

: occurs when the monopolist charges different prices for different units of a
homogeneous commodity. That is, in general, price discrimination means that a
firm charges two or more prices for the same product at the same time. If the
product is not homogeneous, it can also mean that the differences in the prices of
a firm's products are greater than differences in their cost of production.
!
9.7.1 Degrees of Price Discrimination

I
How far can a monopolist go on charging different prices for the same product?
What is the limit? The-degree of price discrimination sets the limits within which
a monopolists can charge different prices. We can distinguish between 3 degrees
of price discrimination. Look into the following discussion in this regard.
First Degree Price Discrimination
Discrimination of the first degree definesthe maximum possible limit of a monopolist
in charging different prices for the same product. By setting the price accordingly,
the monopolist extracts from each consumer the entire amount of consumer
surplus. For this reason, first degree discrimination is also called perfect
discrimination.
Second Degree Price Discrimination
In case of second degree of price discrimination, the monopoly firm sells
to the consumer a block of output at one price and additional block of output at
a different price. In this way, the monopolist captures a part of the consumers'
surpluses, but not all of them. The schedules of rates charged by public utilities
provide examples of second-degree discrimination. Observe the rates you pay
for electricity and water supply. Cl~argesare in different slab rates. Such structures
come close to the underlying idea behind second degree price discrimination.
Third Degree Price Discrimination
Third-degreeprice discrimination means that the monopolist divides customers
into two or more groups, charging a different price to each group of customers.
Each class is treated as aseparate market. This is the most common type of
price discrimination and form the subject matter of study in the following pages.

1 9.7.2 Conditions for Price Discrimination

Let us consider the conditions under which price discrimination it is possible.
The fundamental condition which must be f~~lfilled, ifdiscrimination is to take
place. is that there can be no possibility of resale of product from one consumer
to another.The discriminatioil may be owing to consumers' @culiarities, may be
based on the nature ofthe good, or may be because of distances and tariff or
other barriers. This may happen if consumers in one part of the market do not
know that prices are lower in another, that is, lack of communication in different
parts of the market or if the consumer has an irrational feeling that she is paying a
higher price for a better good. The nature of the good may facilitate discrimination.
For example, if the good in question is a direct service, hair cuts or manicures,
services of a doctor or of a teacher. It is not possible for these services to be
resold by a consumer who is charged a lower price to one who pays a higher price.
Market Structure Conditions under which it is Profitable to Charge Different Prices
If above conditions are met, it is possible for the monopolist to engage in price
discrimination. However, it will be profitable to discriminate only if elasticity of
demand in the one market (el)is different from elasticity of demand in the other
(ei), that is, e, #e,. This needs further elaboration.
Assume a monopolist who divides her market into two distinct segments, market
1 and market 2 and has a fixed quantity of the product to be sold in one or both of
the two markets. How should the given quantity be allocated between the markets
so as to maximise the monopolist's total revenue? The total revenue will be maxirnised
from the sale of a given total quantity of a commodity if marginal revenue in
market A is equal to the marginal revenue in market B, that is, MR, = MR,.
Now it is simple to understand that, ifthe coefficient of price elasticity of demand
(e) is same in both the markets, it will not be profitable to attempt to separate the
markets. Since marginal revenue in the two markets is to be equalised for
optimum allocation of given output and when elasticity is the same in 60th the
markets, that is, e l = e,, it follows that

Thus PI = P2 and so, there is no price discrimination.

However, if elasticity of demand is different, price discrimination will pay.
When e I < e,, a rise in price in market 1 will not cause much fall in demand,
whereas, a reduction in price in market 2 will add more to revenue than it does to
cost. It will pay the monopolist who is charging the single monopoly price to
transfer goods from market 1 with the inelastic demand to markef 2 with the
elastic demand. The loss of revenue from reducing sales in market 1 will be smaller
than the gain in revenue from expanding sales in the market 2.
Consequently, price will rise in market 1 and fall in market 2. Higher price occursin
the market having more inelastic demand curve. The result may be shown with the
help of formula :
MR = P (1 -1/ e). For optimum allocation of given output in the two markets, MR,
= MR,, that is,

Thus if e l is greater than e,, then P, mu& be less than P2in order to maintain the
equality between the two sides of the above expression. So, the price is higher in
the market which has less-elastic demand. However, the above result hold good
subject to the following conditions:
a) that the coefficient of elasticity of demand is greater than one in both the
markets, and
b) it is profitable to sell in both the market, that is, marginal revenue in both the
market is greater than marginal cost.

9.7.3 Equilibrium under Price Discrimination

To determine the profit maximising total output to be produced by the price
discriminatory monopolist, the marginal revenue should be equal to marginal cost
ofproducing the whole output. This is explained with help of Fig.9.7. Let the average
a d marginal revenue curves of the firm for two separate markets having different
elasticities of demand be ARI,AR2 and MR, and MR2respectively. The total
demand curve D is obtained by horizontal summation of individualAR curves in the
two markets. The aggregate marginal revenue (MR) is the horizontal summationof
MR, and MR2. MC is the marginal cost curve.
Fig. 9.7

AC, MC, AR, M R

I I I I Ill

-
Fig. 9.7: Panel I of the figure AR, = D, and MR, curves in the market A. The corresponding
curves for market Bareshown in panel 11. Notice that demand'curve in market B
is moreelastic of the two. The third panel shows aggregate demand curve D =Dl
+ D2and aggregate marginal revenue curve associated with D. The marginal
cost curveof the firm, MC cuts theMR at point E and therefore, firms total output
is OQ in panel Ill. The firm equates marginal revenue in each market to this
equilibrium level of MC = MR = Q E . Thus, it sells OQ, and OQ2quantities in
markets Aand B respectively. The prices in two markets are OPA and OPB .The
market A, where elasticity of demand is lower, pays a higher price compared to
market B.

To illaximise her profits. the price discriminating inonoplist has to take two decisions:
a) How much total output to produce?
b) How much to sell in each ~narketand at what price?
l'he equilibrium level output oftlie price discriminating monopolist is at point where
MC equals aggregate MR. Since elasticities in two market segments are
different, her profit are maximised if MR, = MR2= MR = MC. The producer
charges less price in ~narketwhere demand is more elastic.
Check Your Progress 2
I ) What is pricediscrimination ?

2) What are the necessary conditions for price discrimination ?

3) Explain how will a profit ii~aximisingdiscriminating inonopolist distribute oi~tpu~t
in different markets? What prices will she charge in those markets?

4) Discuss the relationship between price elasticity of demand and price

discrimination.

9.8 EQUILIBRIUM PRICE AND OUTPUT OF A

PUBLIC MONOPOLY
So far we have discussed the behaviour of a private monopolist wl~oseobjective is
to n~axiiniseher profits, given the economic and technical constraints. In this section,
we analyse the behaviour of apublic nlonopoly - a firm owned and controlled by thc
government. The objective of a public monopoly is to provide more output and
charge lower price so as to increase tlie welfare of people. The optimal pricing and
output decisions by such an iundertaking is not based on profit or sales maximisation
principles but on maximisation of welfxe.
Average-cost-pricing and n~argil~al-cost-pricing are the two possible options for
the determinatio~iof output and price by a public utility firii~.In fact, t!lese t\vo
optio~lscan become policy guidelines for the government for price regulation of a
private ~~ionopoly
film as well.
r.
1 here is a need to regulate monopoly because monopolists have ability to restrict
o~ltputand raise prices of their product and this way earn super iiormal proiits. Such
bcli:~viorincreases inequalities in the distribution of income and wealth. leads to
exploitation of the consumers and also causes inefficiency in allocation of resources.
A net result of all these actions is reduction of consumer welfare in tlie society.
Tliereforc. the main ob.iective behind regulation of inollopoly is the maximisation of'
\$elfare. A monopoly may be regulated either tl~roughfixation of a maximum price
that a ~nonopolistmay charge or appropriate taxation policy. In this unit, we are
concerned with price regulation of monopoly only. The issues involved in average
and marginal cost pricing discussed here are useful in fixing of prices in a public
utility as well.

9.8.1 Marginal Cost Pricing

As discussed above, a nio~iopolistsets price of its product higher than marginal
cost, that is . P > MC. As shown in Fig.9.6. monopolist maximises profit at OQIl1
level of output and charges OPin price. The governnlent may decide to regulate a
n~onopolyby fixing niaximiun price that equals marginal cost of production. Thus,
the n1onopolist will be forced to raise the output to OQ, and the price corresponding
to tl~islevel of output will be OPc - price. whicl~would have prevailed had the
market been pell'ectly competitive. Such a price would ensure efficiency in allocation
of resources as wcll, since it is equal to marginal cost. It also enhances welfare of
 the consumers, as they get larger output at lower price. The consun~er'ssurplus
under non-regulated monopoly is shown by area oft~iangleAPIllEI.When marginal
cost pricing is enforced. it rises to APcEZ(Fig. 9.6).
It may be noted that given the conditions of demand and cost as presented in the
a b o ~ figure.
~ e marginal cost pricing may still nllou a n~onopolistto eamsuper normal
profits as the price ma! still be higher than the average cost. This is a case of
'capacity-constrail~eilsituation', that is, the demand for the product is quite high as
compared to the production capacity. But. in different a situation. uhen there is
excess capacity. marginal cost pricing results in direct loss to the tin11 as its average
cost is higher than marginal cost. Thus the fir111will produce marginal cost price
output only if it is compencated by tlie go\lernmcnt for the direct loss at this Ic\,el ol'
production.

9.8.2 Average Cost Pricing

*Theaim ofthe public policy i b to regillate monopoly in such a manner that it is
possible to providc maximum output at minimi~mprice. One policy option in such a
context is to fix pricc according to the average cost, that is. at a point \\here AR
=AC. This allows the Iirm to earn normal profit. In case of capacity-constrail~ecl
situation, average cost pricing leads to higl~eroi~tputand lower price. l'llis means
therc will be higher level ol'consumer's su~pluscompared to marginal cost pricing,
l luwever. in excess cal,acity situation. there shall be a somewhat higher price with
average cost pricing but thcre shall be no direct loss to the producer as I' =AC.
h4arginal cost pricing is adopted to reach full economic eiliciency or maximum social
\\el Care. But in case of excess capacitj, where AC > MC. marginal cost pricing
necessitates stale subsidies to induce the monopolist to stay in thc market.

9.8.3 A Note on Mark-up Pricing

It is suggested that, in practical life, prices are not fixed by marginal analysis, that
is. by thc use of marginal rc.\,enue and marginal cost concepts. An alternative
approach is to sct the l7riccs in accordance with the average cost principle.
I'hc lirm sets a price eclual lo its total average cost which incIudes a certain net
17rofitmargin, that is.
I' = AVC 4 (;I'M.
m.11ere I' is the price. AVC' is the average \xiable cost, and GPM is the gross
profit ~narginwhich include average tixed cost and net profit margin.

t The purpose of this note is to s11our that a\ erage cost principle and marginal
i analysis ~ o u l gived the same long-run profit maximisation solution. The setting of
the price on the basis of the average cost principles incorporates an estinlation of
the elasticity of demand in the long-run eqi~illbrium.Recall that the necessary
f
condition for profit masimisation is MC = MR. It has all-eady been proved that MR
= P (1 -1le). Given that b1C' > 0. MR must be positive for protit maximisation.
This i~mpliese> I . I'rovided that AVC is constant over the relevant range ofoutput.
thdt is. AVC = MC. For ecluilibrium, AVC = MR, that is, AVC = P (1-lle) =
I'((e-l)/e). In other words. P = AVC{e/(e-1)). Given that e >I. we may write
e/(e- 1 ) ) = ( l +ki. \z here k >O. Therefore, P = AVC ( 1+k). where k is the gross
profit margin. I'or e ~ a m p l e .i f the lirm sets a 20 per cent of AVC as its profit
margin, we have ( I +k) = I ( t ) 0.20 = (e/(e-I ) ) . TIIL~s, tlie elasticity of demand
is 6. Setting a gross profit margin is equivalent to estimating the price elasticity of
demand and applying marginulist analysis. So when the businessman establishes
a mark-up on average costs, he is guessing at the coefficient of price elasticity of
demand.
Check Your Progress 3

1) In what respect a public monopoly is different from a private monopoly?

How does a public monopoly firm make pricing and output decisions?

...................................................................................................................
2) Write a short note on mark-up pricing.

9.9 LET US SUM UP

We commenced tlis unit with a discussion of factors whichgive rise to monopoly in
the market. In some cases it may be a result of 'march of technology'. but more
often, it arises on accoulit of legal provisions like patents, if it has not bee11
created by law (public monopoly). The subsequent discussion was folrhed with a
desciiptionof demand and marginal revenue curves of such a firm and its equilibrium.
Then we took up questions like whether a nionopoly always makes profits or. benefits
a rise in price. Nature of the supply curve, efficiency in production etc.. were tlie
other aspects we touched upon.
Price discriinination is another aspect of a monopolist's beliaviour aiid it has been
dwelt upon in Section 9.7. We have examined two alternative approaches to price
determination in a public monopoly, which can be used to regulate prices in private
~noiiopoliesas well. We have concluded the unit by demonstrating eqi~ivalenceof
mark-up pricing with prior estimation of price elasticity of demand.

9.10 KEY WORDS

Monopoly : Existence of only one producer/ seller of a good in
the market.
Legal monopoly : Monopoly created by some legal provisions.

Technological Monopoly : Technology is such that it makes feasible for tlie

production by one producer only.
Price Discrimination : Ability of a firm to charge different prices from
different consumers for tlie sanie product.
Public Monopoly : A government sets up moilopoly to ensure greater
availability of some good or service at a reasonable
price.
 g i n is tr i i : I'sicing policy nhich covers only the malpin:ll cost of'
production.

A\,cn~gcCost Pricing : I'olicy under which the price covers average cost of
production.

Mark-up Pricing : Pricing technique which futes price at average variable

cost plus a proportion of the fixed costs and a profit
margin.

9.11 SOME USEFUL BOOKS

Varian. I lui ( 1005). l~r/cl.~~rcrli~~/e
121ic~~oi~co~on~ic.r,
W. W . Norton & Co, New
)'orI,
Itobcrt S. ant1 Ilanicl Ri~binfeld(1989) iMicl.occononiics, Collier
I'i~~tlq~li.
Macmillan. I ,ondon

9.12 HINTSIANSWERSTOCHECKYOUR
PROGRESS EXERCISES
C'hecli Your l'rogrcss I

, 1 ) Read Scction 9.1 and 9.2 and ansner

2 ) [<cadSection 0.1.9.?. and answer.

3) Read Section 9.3 ant1 ans\\er.
4) Read Scction 0.3 ancl alis\\er.
5) Rcad Scction 0.3 and an\\\er.
6) Rend 9.4 and ans\\lcr.

7) Read Scction 9.3.9.4 and answer.

8) Read Section 9.5 ant1 answer.
Check Your Progress 2

I) Rcad Sccliorl 9.7 a~itl:inswes.

3.) I<cnd Sub-bection 0.7.2 and answer.

3) Rcad Sub-section 0.7.3 and ans\vcl-.

Check Your l'rogrcss 3

1) Rcad Sub-section 9.8.1.'1.8.2 and answer

2) Itcad Suh-section O.S.-? and answer.