In monopolistic competition, what is the primary objective a firm seeks to achieve through advertising?

• A. To eliminate all competition and become a monopoly
• B. To set the market price for all firms in the industry
• C. To differentiate its product from competitors and increase market share
• D. To reduce production costs by increasing economies of scale

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the nature of monopolistic competition: firms sell products that are similar but differentiated from each other.
2. Recognize that in monopolistic competition, firms have some degree of market power due to product differentiation.
3. Identify the role of advertising: it is primarily used to highlight the unique features of a firm's product compared to competitors.
4. Know that advertising helps a firm increase its market share by attracting more customers who prefer its differentiated product.
5. Conclude that the primary objective of advertising in monopolistic competition is to differentiate the product and increase market share, rather than eliminating competition or setting prices.