--%>

Chance for arbitrage

Assume the price of unleaded regular octane gasoline were 20 cents per gallon higher in New Jersey than in Oklahoma.  Do you think there would be chance for arbitrage (that means. that firms could buy gas in Oklahoma and then sell it at profit in New Jersey)?  Why or why not?

Oklahoma and New Jersey stand for separate geographic markets for gasoline due to high transportation costs.  If transportation costs were zero, a price raise in New Jersey would prompt arbitrageurs to buy gasoline in Oklahoma and sell it in New Jersey.  In this case it is unlikely that the 20 cents per gallon difference in costs would be high sufficient to create a profitable opportunity for arbitrage, given both transactions costs & transportation costs.

   Related Questions in Microeconomics

  • Q : Automation process I have a problem in

    I have a problem in economics on Automation process. Please help me in the following question. The procedure of substituting complicated machinery for human labor is termed as: (1) automation. (2) Bionic engineering. (3) Robotics. (4) Scientific manag

  • Q : Total revenue of monopolistically

    A particular monopolistically competitive firm’s total revenue is probably to increase when this: (w) increases the prices of its products and consumer demand is elastic. (x) maintains its original price even if all of its compe

  • Q : Contribution Standard for Income

    Staunch defenders of the contribution standard for income distribution would not argue that: (w) people must receive income at least commensurate along with survival needs. (x) equity requires people to be rewarded as per their marginal productivity.

  • Q : Limitation in Lorenz curve A Lorenz

    A Lorenz Curve cannot be used to demonstrate scientifically how the: (w) income is distributed among members of society. (x) wealth is distributed in between members of society. (y) taxes alter the distribution of income. (z) income must be distribute

  • Q : Help The problem of asymmetric

    The problem of asymmetric information is that: a) neither health care buyers nor providers are well-informed. b) health care providers are well-informed, but buyers are not. c) the outcomes of many complex medical procedures cannot be predicted. d) insurance companies are well-informed

  • Q : Barriers prevent entry in monopoly

    Monopolists are more probable to generate economic profits within the long run than are pure competitors since: (w) monopolists are crooks. (x) monopolists are more interested in profits. (y) barriers prevent entry by new firms in a m

  • Q : Price discriminating-monopoly A price

    A price discriminating-monopoly will NOT: (w) charge various prices for a good to various consumers. (x) charge various prices for a good without cost differential. (y) charge similar price to all consumers. (z) charge more for those consumers who hav

  • Q : Tax problem Give the answer of

    Give the answer of following question. A progressive tax is such that: A) tax rates are higher the greater one's income. B) the same tax rate applies to all income receivers, so that the rich pay absolutely more taxes than the poor. C) entrepreneurial income is exempt

  • Q : Income Distribution and Satisfaction

    Some researchers have determined that citizens of some prosperous countries [for example, Japan] explain themselves as “happy” far less frequently, onto average, than citizens of a few poorer nations [for example, Indonesia]. Nevertheless, almost all studi

  • Q : Labor Contracts-Shop Agreements From

    From the point of view of management, the favored union membership ranking (most favored to the least favored) would be: (i) Closed shop, union shop, agency shop and open shop. (ii) Open shop, agency shop, union shop and closed shop. (iii) Agency shop, open shop, clos