Kerry, the new sales director, just completed her first staff meeting to set annual goals. She managed to get the team's consensus on increasing sales volume by 10 percent over the next year. Kerry had suggested that the team focus on increasing sales of the base model first and then focus attention on the premium offerings. In closing, she reminded the group that the whole team would share responsibility for ensuring that sales goals were met. As they left the meeting, her company president, Richard, congratulated her on her planning but suggested there was one thing she might reconsider. What did he notice? Kerry had ...

Why is the cournot equilibrium an​ equilibrium? a. there are​ short-run barriers to exit in a cournot​ duopoly, so both firms cannot alter their output levels. b. given the other​ firm's level of​ production, both firms are maximizing profits and cannot improve their situation by unilaterally altering their level of output. c. both firms operate at zero profit under a cournot​ equilibrium, so they would face negative profits if they change output. d. both firms operate at minimum​ long-run average cost under a cournot​ equilibrium, so changes to output would reduce​ long-run profits. even if they​ can't collude, why​ don't firms set their outputs at the joint​ profit-maximizing levels​ (i.e., the levels they would have chosen had they​ colluded)? a. given that other firm produces at the collusive​ level, a firm could increase their own profits by increasing output above the collusive level. b. the midpoint of the collusion curve​ (i.e., the collusive​ outcome) lies below the reaction​ curves, so both firms have an incentive to increase output under the cournot duopoly. c. both a and b are correct d. both a and b are incorrect