An investor wanting large returns will be interested in companies that have:

• A. low consumer surplus and low willingness to pay among customers
• B. high consumer surplus and high willingness to pay among customers
• C. low consumer surplus but high willingness to pay among customers
• D. high consumer surplus but low willingness to pay among customers

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of consumer surplus. Consumer surplus is the difference between what consumers are willing to pay for a good or service and what they actually pay. It measures the benefit consumers receive from purchasing at a lower price than their maximum willingness to pay.
2. Step 2: Recognize that willingness to pay represents the maximum price a consumer is ready to pay for a product. High willingness to pay indicates strong demand and perceived value of the product.
3. Step 3: Consider the investor's goal of large returns. Companies with customers who have high willingness to pay can charge higher prices, potentially increasing revenue and profits.
4. Step 4: Analyze the relationship between consumer surplus and willingness to pay. High consumer surplus means customers pay much less than their maximum willingness to pay, which might limit the company's pricing power. Low consumer surplus with high willingness to pay suggests the company captures more value from customers.
5. Step 5: Conclude that companies with high willingness to pay and low consumer surplus are attractive to investors seeking large returns because these companies can charge prices closer to what customers are willing to pay, maximizing profits.