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Intermediate Microeconomics 2
Chapters 7-8
21
Economics
Undergraduate 3
03/29/2012

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Term
Cost
Definition

TC = FC + VC

 

ATC = TC/q

AFC = FC/q

AVC = VC/q

average cost is the slope of a ray from the origin to the cost curve

MC = ΔVC/Δq = ΔTC/Δq

marginal cost is the slope of the tangent line on either TC or VC

Term
In the long run Cost Minimization
Definition

TC=FC+VC <-- short run

 

long run we have inputs: labor, capital and each has a cost

w-wage rate for labor

cost of labor is wL

r-rental rate for capital

cost of capital is rK

Term
Iso cost curve
Definition

every combination of labor and capital on the isocost curve results in the same total cost

 

slope of curve is -(w/r)

Term
Cost Minimization in Production, Long Run
Definition

Cost = rK + wL

 

Tangency condition:

slope of isocost curve (set)= slope of isoquant(quantity produced curve)

 

-(w/r) = -MRTS

-w/r = -MPL/MPk

w/r = MPl/MPk

Term
Identify cost minimizing inputs for q
Definition

substitute result of tangency condition into the production function for q

 

ex.) r = 15 w = 5

q = f(K,L) = K^(3/4)L^(1/4)

 

5/15 = derivative of f

plug result into f

Term
Cost - Output Elasticity
Definition

(ΔC/C)/(Δq/q)

 

= MC(1/AC) = (MC/AC)

 

Eco < 1 - economies of scale

Eco > 1 diseconomies of scale

Term

Economies of Scope

and

Product Transformation Curve

Definition

Production of 2 outputs (q,q2)

 

 

if concave, economies of scope

if convex, diseconomies of scope

Term
Economies of Scope cont.
Definition

advantage in producing goods jointly

 

Scope vs. Scale

 

scope is producing multiple(different) goods, scale is increasing the scale of production

Term
Perfect Competition and the Profit Maximizing Decision
Definition
Term
Perfect Competition
Definition

1.) Price takers - many firms, no firm has a large market share (q/Q)

2.)Product Homogeniety - "standardized product" all firms produce an identical good to their competitors

3.) Free entry and exit - in the long run there exists no barriers to entering or exiting the industry

Term
All firms have one goal - Profit Maximization
Definition

profit : ∏(q) = R(q) - C(q)

∏ - firm level profit

 

Profit Maximization occurs at MR = MC

(marginal revenue = marginal cost

 

aka when the slopes are equal, NOT when R = C

 

Term
Marginal Revenue for a perfectly competitive firm?
Definition
As a price taker, the perfectly competitive firm has no say on the price. Therefore they are given the price, P. Every time they sell another unit of the good they receive P. Marginal revenue is additional revenue per good, so marginal revenue = P, or the price of the good.
Term
Price and Revenue for Perfectly Competitive firms
Definition

TR = P x q (price * quantity)

Average revenue(AR) = TR/q = P

MR = P

 

 

∏(q) = R(q) - C(q)

= (P*q) - C(q)[q/q])

= (P - (C(q)/q))*q

=(P-ATC(q))q

∏(q) = (P-ATC(q))q

 

P > ATC : profitable

P = ATC : break even (zero profit)

P < ATC : taking a loss(negative profit)

break even occurs where MC intersects ATC  

(remember P = MC) at minimum ATC

 

Term
Threshold b/w Producing and Shutting down
Definition

where ∏(q) = -FC

 

C(q) = FC + VC(q)

 

-FC = R(q) - (FC + VC(q))

 

= ....

P*q = (VC(q)/q) * q

P = VC(q)/q means 

P = AVC(q)

 

given of course that the firm is indifferent b/w producing and shutting down

Term
Price and Cost
Definition

P= MC - profit max q

p > ATC : + profit

P < ATC : -profit

 

AVC < P < ATC : loss in producing < FC

 

P < AVC : loss in producing > FC -> shut down

 

 

Term
Firm's Short Run Supply 
Definition

it is the MC curve above minimum AVC

 

firm supply curve: P = MC

 

market supply: n * MC

n = number of firms

 

 

Term
Producer Surplus
Definition

the difference b/w price received and willingness to sell(marginal cost)

 PS = P - MC for each q

 

meaning with some calculus, 

 

PS = [P - AVC(q*)]q*

 

∏(q*) = PS(q*) - FC

in the long run, entering and exiting are available to firms

if ∏ >0 there will be entry

if ∏ < 0 , there will be exits

at long run equilibrium, ∏ = 0, P = ATC, P = MC, ATC = MC

Term
Producer Surplus for the firm in the Short Run
Definition

PS = (P-AVC)q

∏ = PS- FC

PS = ∏ + FC

Term
Choosing Output in the Long Run
Definition

Remember, 1.) All costs are variable (TC = VC = C)

2.) Free Entry and Exit

 

firm at first produces Qsr at P0, but then in the long run, the firm expands production (increase in q) to Qlr (still P0). The existence of profits will cause the industry to expand however, driving the price down to p1, along the LMC curve and LAC curve until MC = AC. 

 

Prices fall until entry stops. This occurs at zero profit ∏ = MC = AC

Term
Economic Rent
Definition

what happens when firms have different costs?

 

the area difference between Plr and Potherfirm = economic rent.

 

suppose there are N firms in the market

"other firm's" profits = TR - VC - FC - Economic rent = 0

Term
Summary of Rent
Definition

∏ = PS - FC  <-short run

 

in long run, no fixed costs

∏ = PS, in LR equilibrium PS = 0

 

in the presence of rents we have the added OPPORTUNITY COST of rent.

 

∏ = R(q) - C(q) - rent

= R(q) - VC - FC - rent 

remember PS = R(q) - VC

 

∏ = PS-rent   in LR Eq. ∏ = 0

PS = Rent

 

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