Food inc video assignment sheet answers

Using the regression results and the other computations from Assignment 1, determine the market structure in which this frozen, low-calorie microwavable food company now operates.

ECO550- Assignment 1(demand estimation.docx

In assignment #1, the company estimated a demand curve and used a marginal cost curve as its supply curve. You determined the equilibrium in the market where P =MC [or Qs = Qd]. You calculated the various elasticities using the estimated demand at its current price of 500 cents. While not required, if you look at the own price elasticity at the equilibrium price and quantity solved for in Assignment #1 you will notice a problem for the firm if it thinks it is operating in a competitive market.

Now that you know that the firm faces a downward sloping demand curve and that it has pricing power, you are being asked to rethink how the firm should behave in the market as it actually used its pricing power to determine the profit maximizing price and output in this assignment.

1. Use the Internet to research two (2) leading competitors in the low-calorie microwavable food industry, and take note of their pricing strategies, profitability, and their relationships within this industry (within the USA and worldwide). Use the IBIS Report for the Frozen Food Production Industry (SIC Code 31141) to be provided by your instructor.

===è Please read the attached IBIS report on Frozen Food Industry in U.S.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

1. Outline a plan that will assess the effectiveness of the market structure for the company’s operations. In Assignment 1, the assumption was that the market structure [or selling environment] was perfectly competitive and that the equilibrium price was to be determined by setting QD equal to QS. You are now aware of recent changes in the selling environment that suggest an imperfectly competitive market where your firm now has substantial market power in setting its own “optimal” price.