D) income is usually rising.
In the United States today, the Federal Reserve will give you ________ in exchange for
$1.
A) 1/35 of an ounce of gold
B) $1 worth of gold (based on the market price of an ounce of gold at the time you
redeem the gold)
C) 1 ounce of gold
D) no gold
a. What is the defining characteristic of a natural monopoly?
b. Should the government break up a natural monopoly into two or more firms to make
the industry more competitive?
c. Suppose the government wants to ensure that some of the benefits of declining
average total cost are passed on to consumers. To achieve this goal, it requires that the
natural monopoly set its price equal to marginal cost. Is this a feasible goal? Explain.
d. What is an alternative to marginal cost pricing that ensures that consumers reap some
of the benefits of declining average total cost?