Over the last century, The Boeing Co. has become the largest aerospace company in the world. Boeing’s principal global competitor is Airbus, a company that has its roots in a European consortium of French, German and later, Spanish and U.K companies. Though dominated by Boeing and Airbus, smaller firms have recently entered the commercial aircraft industry. Notable among these is Embraer, a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer. Embraer makes smaller commercial aircraft that offer excellent reliability and cost effectiveness.

To illustrate the price leadership concept, assume that total and marginal cost functions for Airbus (A) and Embraer (E) aircraft are as follows:

TCA = $10,000,000 + $35,000,000QA + $250,000QA2

MCA = $35,000,000 + $500,000QA

TCE = $200,000,000 + $20,000,000QE + $500,000QE2

MCE = $20,000,000 + $1,000,000QE

Boeing’s total and marginal cost relations are as follows:

TCB = $4,000,000,000 + $5,000,000QB + $62,500QB2

MCB = TCB/QB = $5,000,000 + $125,000QB

The industry demand curve for this type of jet aircraft is

Q = 910 - 0.000017P

For simplicity, assume that Airbus and Embraer aircraft are perfect substitutes for Boeing aircraft, and that each total cost function includes a risk-adjusted normal rate of return on investment.

A. Determine the supply curves for Airbus and Embraer aircraft, assuming that the firms operate as price takers.

B. What is the demand curve faced by Boeing?

C. Calculate Boeing’s profit-maximizing price and output levels. (Hint: Boeing’s total and marginal revenue relations are TRB = $50,000,000QB - $50,000QB2, and MRB =∂TRB/∂QB = $50,000,000 - $100,000QB.)

D. Calculate profit-maximizing output levels for the Airbus and Embraer aircraft.

E. Is the market for aircraft from these three firms in short-run and in long-run equilibrium?