Archer daniels midland and the friendly competitors case study

Please write 2-3 page summary for the case. you may summarize with considering following questions but do not just answer the question.

According to the case, the ADM plant could produce “250 million tons of lysine a year—enough to supply half of the annual worldwide demand,” so the average worldwide demand for lysine was about 41.7 tons a month. Calculate how much the lysine companies were making each month their price-fixing scheme was actu- ally working (i.e., when lysine was selling for $1.20 per pound). Next, based on the price lysine sold for when the price-fixing schemes broke down, estimate what you think the equilibrium price of lysine was during the period of the case. Calculate how much the lysine companies would have made each month if lysine had sold for the equilibrium price. Now calculate the dif- ference between what the companies made each month their price-fixing scheme actually worked, and what they should have made each month if lysine had sold for the equilibrium price, in order to get the “monopoly profit” the companies made each month they success- fully fixed prices. Finally, estimate the total number of months that you think the price-fixing scheme was actu- ally working. In light of your estimate of the total num- ber of months their price-fixing worked, what was the total amount of “monopoly profit” the companies took from their customers? Explain fully the ethics of ex- tracting this monopoly profit from customers. Did the U.S. and European government fines fully recover the total amount of monopoly profits the companies made?
This chapter of your text cites a number of factors that cause companies to engage in price-fixing. Identify the factors that you think were present in the ADM case. Explain your answer and be specific.
In your view, was Mark Whitacre to blame (i.e., mor- ally responsible) for what he did? Explain. Were any of the obstacles to moral behavior (see Chapter 1) operat- ing in his situation? Explain. Do you agree with Whit- acre’s own assessment that although “others have said that ultimately the corporate culture of ADM played a primary role in my decision making at the time” this is, “Alas, not true”?
Do you believe that in the end Mark Whitacre was treated justly? Explain.