a. Consider the iron ore production industry, and assume that there are just two producers, FM and BHP. Initially assume that both firms are identical in terms of their production costs. If the two firms can cooperate, what should they do in order to maximise industry profits? How does your answer change if: (i) price discrimination is feasible; or (ii) the two firms have different costs of production? If you are working as a consultant for the ACCC, how would you view cooperation between the two iron ore producers?
b. Thinking more broadly than iron ore, how can two oligopolists try to avoid being caught in a competitive outcome? Are any of these relevant for the iron ore industry?