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Fixed Input
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An input whose quantity cannot be changed as output changes
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variable input
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An input whose quantity can be changed as output changes
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Marginal Physical Product (MPP)
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the change in output that results from changing the variable input by one unit, with all other inputs held fixed. MPP= ΔQ/ΔL
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Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns
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As ever larger amounts of a variable input are combined with fixed inputs, eventually the marginal physical product of the variable input will decline
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Fixed Costs
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Costs that do not vary with output; the costs associated with fixed inputs
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Variable costs
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Costs that vary with output; the costs associated with variable inputs
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Total Cost
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Sum of fixed and variable cost
TC=TFC+TVC
TC=TFC+TVC
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Marginal Cost
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change in total cost that results from a change in output
MC= ΔTC/ΔQ
MC= ΔTC/ΔQ
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Profit
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Profit = TR - TC
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Total Revenue
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TR = P x Q
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Explicit Cost
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A cost incurred when an actual (monetary) Payment is made
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Accounting Profit
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TR - TC (explicit cost)
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Economic Profit
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TR - TC (explicit + implicit costs)
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Average Fixed Cost (AFC)
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AFC = TFC / Q
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Average Variable Cost (AVC)
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AVC = TVC / Q
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Average Total Cost (ATC)
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ATC = TC / Q or ATC = AFC + AVC
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Average-marginal rule:
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When the marginal magnitude is above the average magnitude, the average magnitude rises; when the marginal magnitude is below the average magnitude, the average magnitude falls.
MC > AVC or ATC, Average rises
MC < AVC or ATC, Average falls
MC intersects AVC and ATC at minimum
MC > AVC or ATC, Average rises
MC < AVC or ATC, Average falls
MC intersects AVC and ATC at minimum
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Sunk Cost
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A cost incurred in the past that cannot be changed by current decisions and therefore cannot be recovered
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In the downward-sloping portion of the average variable cost curve, it is always true that the
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marginal cost curve is below the average variable cost curve
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Long-Run Average Total Cost (LRATC) Curve
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A curve that shows the lowest (unit) cost at which a firm can produce any given level of output. Long run has no fixed inputs
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MC, AVC or ATC
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The _____ curve cuts the _____ curve at its lowest point.
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Economies of Scale
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Economies that exist when inputs are increased by some percentage and output increases by a greater percentage, causing unit costs to fall
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Diseconomies of Scale
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The condition when inputs are increased by some percentage and output increases by a smaller percentage, causing unit costs to rise.
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Market Structure
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The environment whose characteristics influence a firm's pricing and output decisions
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Perfect Competition
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A theory of market structure based on four assumptions
1. Many buyers and many sellers
2. Each firm sells a homogeneous product
3. Buyers and sellers have all relevant information
4. Firms have easy entry and exit
1. Many buyers and many sellers
2. Each firm sells a homogeneous product
3. Buyers and sellers have all relevant information
4. Firms have easy entry and exit
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Price Taker
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A seller that does not have the ability to control the price of the product it sells; the seller "takes" the price determined in the market. The demand curve for a perfectly competitive firm is horizontal.
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Marginal Revenue in Perfect Markets (MR):
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The change in total revenue (TR) that results from selling one additional unit of output (Q).
MR = ΔTR / ΔQ
P = MR as well
MR = ΔTR / ΔQ
P = MR as well
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Profit Maximization Rule
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Profit is maximized by producing the quantity of output at which MR = MC
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Resource Allocative Efficiency
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The situation in which firms produce the quantity of output at which price equals marginal cost.
P = MC
P = MC
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Continue to produce in short run
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Price is below average total cost but above average variable cost AVC < P < ATC
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Shutting down in the short run
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Price is below average variable cost P < AVC
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Long-Run Competitive Equilibrium
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P = MC = SRATC = LRATC
• Economic profit is zero: P = SRATC
• Firms are producing Q where P = MC
• No firm has an incentive to change its plant size: SRATC = LRATC
• Economic profit is zero: P = SRATC
• Firms are producing Q where P = MC
• No firm has an incentive to change its plant size: SRATC = LRATC
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Productive Efficiency
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The situation in which a firm produces its output at the lowest possible per-unit cost. (lowest ATC).
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Long-Run (Industry) Supply (LRS) Curve
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A graphic representation of the quantities of output that an industry is prepared to supply at different prices after the entry and exit of firms are completed.
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Constant-Cost Industry
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An industry in which ATC do not change as output increases or decreases when firms enter or exit the industry, respectively
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Increasing-Cost Industry
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An industry in which ATC increase as output increases and decrease as output decreases when firms enter and exit the industry, respectively.
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Decreasing-Cost Industry
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An industry in which ATC decrease as output increases and increase as output decreases when firms enter and exit the industry, respectively
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If market demand rises in a perfectly competitive market, it follows that
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a perfectly competitive firm's marginal revenue will rise