Some people propose reducing the number of years that a drug patent lasts, but their critics argue that such a change would result in even higher prices during the patent period as companies would need to recover drug development costs more quickly. Is this argument valid if drug companies maximize profit? If patent lengths were reduced, then a monopoly drug manufacturer while under the patent OA. would not charge higher prices because demand would be unchanged. OB. would charge higher prices because marginal costs would have increased. OC. would not charge higher prices because average costs would decrease. OD. would not charge higher prices because demand would become flatter. OE. would charge higher prices because demand becomes less elastic.

Some people propose reducing the number of years that a drug patent lasts, but their critics argue that such a change would result in even higher prices during the patent period as companies would need to recover drug development costs more quickly. Is this argument valid if drug companies maximize profit? If patent lengths were reduced, then a monopoly drug manufacturer while under the patent OA. would not charge higher prices because demand would be unchanged. OB. would charge higher prices because marginal costs would have increased. OC. would not charge higher prices because average costs would decrease. OD. would not charge higher prices because demand would become flatter. OE. would charge higher prices because demand becomes less elastic.

Microeconomic Theory

12th Edition

ISBN:9781337517942

Author:NICHOLSON

Publisher:NICHOLSON

Chapter14: Monopoly

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 14.6P

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Some people propose reducing the number of years that a drug patent lasts, but their critics argue that such a change would result in even higher prices during the patent period as companies would need to recover drug development costs more quickly. Is this argument valid if drug companies maximize profit? If patent lengths were reduced, then a monopoly drug manufacturer while under the patent OA would not charge higher prices because demand would become steeper. OB. would not charge higher prices because average costs would decrease OC. would charge higher prices because demand becomes less elastic OD. would charge higher prices because marginal costs would have increased OE would not charge higher prices because demand would be unchanged.
Patents grant a temporary monopoly, and can therefore raise drug prices. Given that, why are drug patents beneficial? a If drug prices are too low, consumers will think they are ineffective and won't use them. b Insurance companies want drug prices to be high so they can charge higher premiums to consumers. c Without a patent, a new drug could be easily replicated by competitors, and the innovator would receive no profits. Thus, there would be no incentive to spend effort making the new drug. d Consumers enjoy paying higher prices for drugs that improve their quality of life.
2. Acme Pharmaceutical Company discovers a vaccine that prevents the common cold and has a patent that grants it a monopoly on this drug. Acme has plants in both the North America and Europe and can manufacture the drug on either continent at a marginal cost of $10. Assume there are no fixed costs. In Europe, the demand for the drug is QE = 70 PE, where QE is the quantity demanded when the price in Europe is PE. In North America the demand for the drug is QN = 110 - PN, where QN is the quantity demanded when the price in North America is PN (a) Determine the aggregate demand function for the combined mar- ket. Determine the inverse demand function for the combined market and the inverse demand functions for each of the two mar- kets separately. (b) To begin, assume that it is illegal for the firm to price discriminate, so that it can charge only a single price P on both continents. What price will it charge, and what profits will it earn?
Give typing answer with explanation and conclusion A monopolist has a demand curve given by P = 88 − Q and a total cost curve given by TC = 34 + Q2. The associated marginal cost curve is MC = 2Q. Suppose the monopolist also has access to a foreign market in which he can sell whatever quantity he chooses at a constant price of 60. How much will he sell in the foreign market? What will his new quantity and price be in the original market?
The New York Times has stated that Mylan, the company that makes the now infamous Epipen, has become “the poster boy for out of control drug prices.” Why did this Pittsburgh-based company raise prices so much that Americans pay three times as much as Canadians for the same drug? Do you think patents are good for society?
1. A U.S. patent for the drug that most effectively treats HIV prevents other drug companies from producing a comparable substitute for patients. a. What is the effect of patent protection on the demand for a drug? How does the shape of the demand curve differ before and after a patent has expired? Support your explanation with a graph. b.Demand curves respond to preferences, income, and costs of substitute and complements. Discuss how these factors determine a country’s demand for HIV treatments. How might the effects of the patent protection differ across countries?
A single-price monopolist is currently producing at an output level where marginal revenue is $14, marginal cost is $16, AVC=$13, and ATC= $15. It is assumed that the monopolist, as usual, chooses its price on the demand curve. To maximize profit or minimize losses in the short run, this monopolist should O A. decrease the price and increase the level of output. O B. increase the price and the level of output. O C. leave the market. O D. decrease the price and the level of output. O E. increase the price and decrease the level of output.
If a monopolist with significant barriers to entry is making positive economic profit in the short run, what do we expect to happen as the market transitions to the long run? O The profit will increase since the monopolist has no competition, they can just raise the price to earn higher profits. O It will decrease as positive economic profit signals new firms to enter the market, increasing the market supply, and lowering the prevailing price. O It will increase, in the long run firms will drop out the market increasing the monopolists dominance in the marketplace. O The profit will stay the same, strong barriers to entry prevent new competition.
Define monopoly relative to pharmaceutical market power.
In the US, drug companies receive a patent of 100 years for each drug they develop. This allows them a prolonged legal monopoly on the sale of that drug. True False
Why are generic pharmaceuticals significantly cheaper than name brand ones?
Suppose that the monopolist can prevent the existence of a second-hand market. In other words, there can be no resale of the product between consumers after the initial purchase from the monopolist. What would the profit be for the monopolist from charging only one price to the entire market? Again, with no second-hand market possible, suppose the monopolist can distinguish between type H and type L consumers and can offer a discount to type L consumers. What are the profit-maximizing prices the monopolist will charge? How many units of the good will each type of consumer buy? What will the monopolist’s total profit be? What is total consumer surplus with only one price (part a)? What is total consumer surplus with 3rd degree price discrimination (part b)?