The Australian skiing industry operates out of a very narrow seasonal base-approximately three months in a good season. In a good year, providers of accommodation, ski hire and tow operators stand to benefit from increased usage of services and more people taking part in ski and après-ski activities. In a poor year, with the late arrival of snow and the early finish to the season, and hence fewer visitors to the ski slopes, many operators need to meet their operating costs plus profits in a shorter period of time.

With a reduced ski season, how would you describe the elasticity of demand for ski hire facilities?

Illustrate two possible outcomes by reducing the hiring price to encourage more customers or increasing price to increase total revenue.

the introduction of snow-generating machines can extend the ski season. What will be the impact on the supply curve of restaurants on the mountain by extending the ski season?

On the cereal breakfast shelf in a local Melbourne supermarket one can find a number of brands such as Corn flakes, Vita Brits, Weet-Bix, Puffed Wheat, Rice Bubbles, Uncle Toby's and Coco Pops. Each brand is different from the other. Would you regard the breakfast cereal industry's market structure as monopolistic competition or as an oligopoly? Is the number of brands sufficient information to identify the market structure? Discuss.