Asked by Vaishak Reddy on Jun 30, 2024

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Natural monopolies occur when:

A) government antitrust laws are too weak or not enforced.
B) negative externalities are present.
C) firms collude to set prices and divide the market among themselves.
D) one firm can service the market more cheaply than two or more firms can.
E) a public good is produced by a private firm.

Natural Monopolies

A situation in which a single firm can supply a product or service to an entire market at a lower cost than could two or more firms, leading to a market structure where only one business exists.

Service The Market

involves addressing the needs and desires of a particular market segment by offering products, services, or solutions that cater specifically to that segment's demands.

Negative Externalities

Uncompensated adverse effects that an individual or firm's activity imposes on others, not accounted for in the market price.

  • Ascertain and clarify the grounds for federal intervention in the economy, involving the distribution of goods for the public benefit, the application of contract law, and the enactment of laws to prevent monopolistic behaviors.
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ZK
Zybrea KnightJul 03, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Natural monopolies occur when one firm is able to produce and service the entire market at a lower cost than two or more firms would be able to. This is typically due to the presence of high fixed costs, which creates economies of scale that make it difficult for other firms to enter the industry. Examples of natural monopolies include electricity and water utilities, where the cost of building and maintaining the necessary infrastructure is so high that it is more efficient to have one firm providing the service.