The Herfindahl index is obtained by

a. adding the squares of the market shares of each firm in the industry.
b. adding the market shares of the largest four firms in the industry.
c. finding the difference between the squares of the market shares of each firm in the industry.
d. finding the difference between the market shares of each firm in the industry.
e. none of the above

Uppose the book-printing industry is competitive and begins in a long-run equilibrium. then hi-tech printing company invents a new process that sharply reduces the cost of printing books. suppose hi-tech's patent prevents other firms from using the new technology. which of the following statements are true about what happens in the short run? check all that apply. hi-tech's average-total-cost curve shifts downward. hi-tech's profits increase. the price of books remains the same. hi-tech's marginal-cost curve remains the same.

Garrett is an executive vice president at samm hardware. he researches a proposal by a larger company, maximum hardware, to combine the two companies. by analyzing past performance, conducting focus groups, and interviewing maximum employees, garrett concludes that maximum has poor profit margins, sells shoddy merchandise, and treats customers poorly. what actions should garrett and samm hardware take? a. turn down the acquisition offer and prepare to resist a hostile takeover. b. attempt a friendly merger and use managerial hubris to improve results at maximum. c. welcome the acquisition and use knowledge transfer to impart sam hardware's management practices. d. do nothing; the two companies cannot combine without samm hardware's explicit consent.

Trade will take place: a. if the maximum that a consumer is willing and able to pay is less than the minimum price the producer is willing and able to accept for a good. b. if the maximum that a consumer is willing and able to pay is greater than the minimum price the producer is willing and able to accept for a good. c. only if the maximum that a consumer is willing and able to pay is equal to the minimum price the producer is willing and able to accept for a good. d. none of the above.