On the closed-form solution of the monopolist long-run profit maximization problem with linear demand and Cobb-Douglas technology

This paper provides an economic and mathematical analysis of the long-run profit maximization problem of a monopolist with linear demand and a two-input Cobb-Douglas technology to derive the conditions that guarantee the solution to this problem. In addition, the conditions under which the closed-fo...

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Main Authors: Zrinka Lukač, Mira Krpan, Vedran Kojić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Croatian Operational Research Society 2025-01-01
Series:Croatian Operational Research Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/473282
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author Zrinka Lukač
Mira Krpan
Vedran Kojić
author_facet Zrinka Lukač
Mira Krpan
Vedran Kojić
author_sort Zrinka Lukač
collection DOAJ
description This paper provides an economic and mathematical analysis of the long-run profit maximization problem of a monopolist with linear demand and a two-input Cobb-Douglas technology to derive the conditions that guarantee the solution to this problem. In addition, the conditions under which the closed-form solution can be derived and the conditions under which the monopolist's profit is positive are discussed. Whenever the problem has a unique solution, the closed-form defines the profit function well for the given demand function. The closed-form solution to the problem depends on the returns to scale. The problem has a unique solution for decreasing returns to scale, for which in general no closed-form can be found. On the other hand, the closed-form of the unique solution can easily be found for constant returns to scale. However, three sub-cases are identified for the case of increasing returns to scale. The analysis is supported by economic interpretations and numerical illustrations.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1848-0225
1848-9931
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Croatian Operational Research Society
record_format Article
series Croatian Operational Research Review
spelling doaj-art-963185965f344a67a0655d577a3f52c02025-08-20T03:28:29ZengCroatian Operational Research SocietyCroatian Operational Research Review1848-02251848-99312025-01-0116211312610.17535/crorr.2025.0010On the closed-form solution of the monopolist long-run profit maximization problem with linear demand and Cobb-Douglas technologyZrinka Lukač0Mira Krpan1Vedran Kojić2Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaThis paper provides an economic and mathematical analysis of the long-run profit maximization problem of a monopolist with linear demand and a two-input Cobb-Douglas technology to derive the conditions that guarantee the solution to this problem. In addition, the conditions under which the closed-form solution can be derived and the conditions under which the monopolist's profit is positive are discussed. Whenever the problem has a unique solution, the closed-form defines the profit function well for the given demand function. The closed-form solution to the problem depends on the returns to scale. The problem has a unique solution for decreasing returns to scale, for which in general no closed-form can be found. On the other hand, the closed-form of the unique solution can easily be found for constant returns to scale. However, three sub-cases are identified for the case of increasing returns to scale. The analysis is supported by economic interpretations and numerical illustrations.https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/473282closed–form solutionCobb-Douglas technologylinear demand functionlong-run profit maximizationmonopoly
spellingShingle Zrinka Lukač
Mira Krpan
Vedran Kojić
On the closed-form solution of the monopolist long-run profit maximization problem with linear demand and Cobb-Douglas technology
Croatian Operational Research Review
closed–form solution
Cobb-Douglas technology
linear demand function
long-run profit maximization
monopoly
title On the closed-form solution of the monopolist long-run profit maximization problem with linear demand and Cobb-Douglas technology
title_full On the closed-form solution of the monopolist long-run profit maximization problem with linear demand and Cobb-Douglas technology
title_fullStr On the closed-form solution of the monopolist long-run profit maximization problem with linear demand and Cobb-Douglas technology
title_full_unstemmed On the closed-form solution of the monopolist long-run profit maximization problem with linear demand and Cobb-Douglas technology
title_short On the closed-form solution of the monopolist long-run profit maximization problem with linear demand and Cobb-Douglas technology
title_sort on the closed form solution of the monopolist long run profit maximization problem with linear demand and cobb douglas technology
topic closed–form solution
Cobb-Douglas technology
linear demand function
long-run profit maximization
monopoly
url https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/473282
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AT vedrankojic ontheclosedformsolutionofthemonopolistlongrunprofitmaximizationproblemwithlineardemandandcobbdouglastechnology