单选题 Which of the following statements about monopolies is most accurate? A. A monopolist's optimal production quantity is at the point where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. B. Monopolists charge the highest possible price. C. Monopolists always make a profit.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】All firms maximize profits where MR=MC. Because of a downward-sloping demand curve and high barriers to entry, monopolists can charge a price higher than MC. Like other price searchers, monopolists take price from the demand curve (at the quantity where MR=MC). The other statements are false. A monopoly structure is characterized by a well-defined product for which there are no good substitutes. A monopolist will earn a profit as long as the demand curve lies above the average total cost curve (ATC) at the optimal quantity point. Monopolists want to maximize profits, not price.