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Price Discrimination or Discriminating Monopoly

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Topics

Estimated time: 11 minutes
  • Definitions: Price Discrimination
  • Types of Price Discrimination
  • Conditions for Price Discrimination
  • Degrees of Price Discrimination
  • Key Points: Price Discrimination or Discriminating Monopoly
CISCE: Class 12

Definitions: Price Discrimination

  • “Price discrimination exists when the same product is sold at different prices to different buyers.” — Koutsoyiannis
  • “Price discrimination is the act of selling the same article produced under single control at a different price to the different buyers.” — Mrs. Joan Robinson
CISCE: Class 12

Types of Price Discrimination

Type Description Example
Personal Different prices to individual buyers based on ability to pay. Doctor fees: Higher for rich patients, lower for poor.
Geographical Varies by location (includes "dumping" abroad). Same phone cheaper in India than USA.
By Use Prices differ by product purpose. Milk: Higher for cream-making vs. drinking.
By Product Nature Branded vs. unbranded. Taj Mahal tea pricier than loose tea.
By Time Peak vs. off-peak rates. STD calls cheaper at night; doctor emergency fees higher.
By Age/Sex/Status Discounts for groups. Lower train fares for seniors, women, military.
CISCE: Class 12

Conditions for Price Discrimination

It works only if all these exist:

  1. Demand Elasticity Differs: Charge high where demand is inelastic (buyers must pay, e.g., medicines); low where elastic (shop around, e.g., vacations).
    Analogy: Water (inelastic in desert) vs. ice cream (elastic on rainy days).
  2. Market Imperfection: No resale between buyers; markets segmented.
  3. Differentiated Product: Slight variations justify price gaps (e.g., coal vs. copper transport).
  4. Legal Sanction: Allowed by law (e.g., electricity: low for homes, high for factories).
  5. Monopoly Power: Seller controls supply, no competition.
CISCE: Class 12

Degrees of Price Discrimination

Degree How It Works Consumer Surplus Left? Real-World Fit
1st (Perfect) Each unit sold at buyer's max willingness-to-pay; demand curve = MR curve. Zero (seller captures all). Rare; like auctions.
2nd Groups charged lowest price in their range; inelastic below a point. Some in group. Bulk discounts.
3rd (Common) Markets divided (e.g., student/adult); price per demand in sub-market. Varies by group. Airlines, cinema.
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Price Discrimination or Discriminating Monopoly

  • Maximizes revenue by capturing more surplus.
  • Requires monopoly + elastic differences.
  • Everyday: Discounts, surges; ethical? Debated (helps access but exploits).

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