A company is considering building a bridge across a river. The bridge would cost $2 million to build and nothing to maintain. The following table shows the company's anticipated demand over the lifetime of the bridge:
Price Per Crossing Number of Crossings, in Thousands
$8 0
$7 100
$6 200
$5 300
$4 400
$3 500
$2 600
$1 700
$0 800
a. If the company were to build the bridge, what would be its profit-maximimizing price? Would that be the efficient level of output? Why or why not?
b. If the company is interested in maximimzing profit, should it build the bridge? What would be its profit or loss?