The De Beers diamond mining and marketing company of South Africa became one of the most profitable and longest-lived monopolies in history. Which of the following has always threatened De Beers' control of the diamond market?
A) At different times in the past some countries have banned the importation of diamonds from South Africa for political reasons.
B) Competition from imitation diamonds. Technology has made it possible to make fake diamonds look exactly like real diamonds.
C) Competition from other gemstones, including rubies and emeralds, that have become more popular over time.
D) Since few diamonds are ever destroyed, De Beers has constantly faced possible competition from other firms reselling diamonds.
Question 2
If economies of scale are significant, the typical firm will not reach the minimum point on its long-run average cost curve until it has produced a large fraction of industry sales.
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
East Africa-Arabia: An Example of Modern Rifting
Diamond and Oxygen
Sub-Saharan Africa
Subsurface mining takes place in underground tunnels