At the market equilibrium, resources are allocated efficiently because:
A) the marginal cost of producing another unit is equal to zero.
B) the price buyers pay accurately reflects the marginal cost of the resources used to
produce the good.
C) the price buyers pay is greater than sellers’ willingness to sell.
D) all of the above
Additional Application
For many years North Carolina-based Krispy Kreme Doughnuts have been the choice
of many Southerners. But now rival Dunkin’ Donuts is working on changing the way
Southerners expect a doughnut to taste. The Northeastern-based Dunkin’ Donuts has
plans to become a national brand in the next 15 years by tripling the number of stores in
the U.S. The difference is in the doughnut itself. Krispy Kreme offers a glazed, hot,
lighter doughnut while the product of Dunkin’ Donuts can be described as “thicker and
cakier.” Do consumers notice the difference? Rosemary Evans from Alabama states,
“Dunkin’ Donuts just don’t have much flavor.” And Jack Lehnhart from Ohio says
Krispy Kremes are “wax doughnuts.” As the size of the industry grows the efforts to
differentiate each product remain strong. Dunkin’ Donuts focuses on coffee and baked
goods as important components in its long term business plan. When discussing the two
companies and their approaches to success, the brand officer at Dunkin’ Donuts
succinctly said, “We’re very different.” Just take note of the different ways they spell the
product they produce!
Source: Beth Rucker, “Dunkin’ Donuts Raids Krispy Kreme’s Turf,” October 22, 2006,
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DONUT_WARS, accessed 10/30/2006.