Ilia is driving home from work. She needs to buy gas and notices an Exxon-Mobil station on one side of the street and a Shell station on the other side of the street. Although run by different companies, the two stations sell gasoline at the same price. a. The most likely reason that the price is the same is that _gas stations always make a profit, so they can charge any price they want. _drivers need gas and are willing to pay whatever price a gas station charges. _government regulation requires both gas stations to charge the same price. _consumers view gasoline from different gas stations as perfect substitutes. b. If one station increases its price, _it will be fined by the government. _it will sell more gasoline. _it will make a higher profit. _it will lose customers to the cheaper station across the street.

Exploring Economics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781544336329
Author:Robert L. Sexton
Publisher:Robert L. Sexton
Chapter14: Monopolistic Competition And Product Differentiation
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 15P
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Ilia is driving home from work. She needs to buy gas and notices an Exxon-Mobil station on one side of the street and a Shell station on the other side of the street. Although run by different companies, the two stations sell gasoline at the same price.

a. The most likely reason that the price is the same is that
_gas stations always make a profit, so they can charge any price they want.
_drivers need gas and are willing to pay whatever price a gas station charges.
_government regulation requires both gas stations to charge the same price.
_consumers view gasoline from different gas stations as perfect substitutes.
b. If one station increases its price,
_it will be fined by the government.
_it will sell more gasoline.
_it will make a higher profit.
_it will lose customers to the cheaper station across the street.
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