In the context of consumer surplus and willingness to pay, what is a company that purchases consumer behavior information from other organizations engaged in?

• A. Market research
• B. Product bundling
• C. Price discrimination
• D. Monopolistic competition

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the key terms in the problem: 'consumer surplus' refers to the difference between what consumers are willing to pay for a good or service and what they actually pay. 'Willingness to pay' is the maximum amount a consumer is ready to pay for a product.
2. Recognize that a company purchasing consumer behavior information is seeking data about consumers' preferences, willingness to pay, and purchasing habits.
3. Identify that this activity involves gathering and analyzing data to better understand market demand and consumer preferences, which is a core function of market research.
4. Differentiate this from other options: 'Product bundling' involves selling multiple products together, 'Price discrimination' is charging different prices to different consumers based on willingness to pay, and 'Monopolistic competition' is a market structure with many firms selling differentiated products.
5. Conclude that the company is engaged in 'Market research' because it is acquiring consumer behavior information to inform business decisions.