📚 Learning Guide
Price Discrimination and Efficiency
hard

In a perfectly competitive market, how does second-degree price discrimination affect the allocation of resources compared to uniform pricing?

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Learning Path
Learning Path

Question & Answer
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Choose the Best Answer

A

It improves allocation by allowing consumers to self-select based on their willingness to pay.

B

It worsens allocation by reducing total consumer surplus.

C

It has no effect on allocation since prices remain the same.

D

It eliminates deadweight loss completely.

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

In a perfectly competitive market, second-degree price discrimination allows sellers to charge different prices based on the quantity purchased or the type of product. This means that consumers can choose different pricing options, such as buying in bulk at a lower price or paying more for premium features. As a result, resources can be allocated more efficiently because sellers can better match prices with consumers' willingness to pay, leading to increased sales and production. For example, if a company sells software, it might offer a basic version at a low price and a premium version with additional features at a higher price. This strategy encourages more consumers to buy the product while maximizing the seller's revenue, ultimately leading to a more efficient distribution of resources in the market.

Detailed Explanation

Second-degree price discrimination lets customers choose prices based on what they can pay. Other options are incorrect because Some might think that charging different prices hurts buyers; It’s a common mistake to think that prices being different doesn’t change anything.

Key Concepts

perfect competition
second-degree price discrimination
allocation of resources
Topic

Price Discrimination and Efficiency

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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