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Production Function
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the way a firm combines inputs to produce an output.
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Types of inputs
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Variable inputs - inputs that can be changes in the short-run to change production (Labor)
Fixed Inputs - inputs that cannot be changed in the short-run to change production (rent)
Fixed Inputs - inputs that cannot be changed in the short-run to change production (rent)
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cookie example
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Variable Inputs: Butter, eggs, chocolate chips, sugar, flour, brown sugar, vanilla, vanilla, baking soda, labor
Fixed Inputs: measuring cups and spoons, bowls and spatulas, oven, cookie sheets, cooling racks
Fixed Inputs: measuring cups and spoons, bowls and spatulas, oven, cookie sheets, cooling racks
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short run
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Period of time too short for firms to alter fixed inputs
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plants capacity
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a firm's maximum potential level of production.
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Total production (TP)
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the total quantity, or total output, of a particular good produced.
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Marginal product (MP)
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the extra output or added product associated with adding a unit of a variable resource (EX. cooks. More cooks, more meals until a certain point (LDR).
MP(L) = change in TP / change in Labor
MP(L) = change in TP / change in Labor
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Average product (AP)
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the average quantity of output produced by one unit of a variable input, often labor. also called labor productivity, is output per unit of labor input. Here productivity of the cooks is measured. Will be more productive with more cooks, until a certain point.
AP(L) = TP/Labor
AP(L) = TP/Labor
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MP crosses through the maximum of AP:
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When MP is above AP, AP is rising.When MP is below AP, AP is falling.
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law of diminishing returns
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the principle that, at some point, adding more of a variable input, such as labor, to the same amount of a fixed input, such as capital, will cause the marginal product of the variable input to decline
-does not exist in the long run
- in LR all resources are variable
-does not exist in the long run
- in LR all resources are variable
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fixed cost
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costs that in total do not vary with changes in output. In other words, no matter how profitable or not profitable a business is, it must pay this cost that will not change. EX. Rent.
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variable cost
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costs that change with the level of output. EX. Wages.
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total cost
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the sum of fixed cost and variable cost at each level of output.
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Average fixed cost (AFC)
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Total fixed costs (TFC)/output (Q)
Average fixed costs decline as output increases
Average fixed costs decline as output increases
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average variable cost (AVC)
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Total variable costs (TVC)/output (Q)
Graphically reflects law of diminishing returns. Initially decreases until the rise in output isn't marginally productive.
Graphically reflects law of diminishing returns. Initially decreases until the rise in output isn't marginally productive.
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Average Total Cost (ATC)
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AFC + AVC = TC/Q = TFC/Q + TVC/Q
Graphically this can be found by adding the AFC and AVC curves.
Graphically this can be found by adding the AFC and AVC curves.
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Marginal Cost
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the extra or additional cost of producing one more unit of output.
MC = Change in TC/Change in Q
MC = Change in TC/Change in Q
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Economies of Scale
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The downsloping part of the ATC curve. For a time, the more plant sizes, the lower the ATC. This is due to the following:
1. Labor Specialization
2. Managerial Specialization
3. Efficient Capital
4. Other Factors
1. Labor Specialization
2. Managerial Specialization
3. Efficient Capital
4. Other Factors
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labor specialization
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Increasing specialization is more achievable as a plant increases in size. Having workers do fewer, more specialized tasks, allows them to be more efficient.
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Managerial Specialization:
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Management can now also specialize and be more efficient.
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Efficient Capital:
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Small firms often cannot afford the more efficient equipment. Large-scale producers can afford more expensive and efficient equipment.
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other factors
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As a firm expands, start-up costs decrease, advertisement costs decrease per-unit, the firm also learns by doing, becoming more efficient
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Diseconomies of Scale
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The difficulty of controlling and coordinating a firm's operations as it becomes a large-scale producer.
This will cause the firm to be less efficient, and cause the long-run ATC curve to increase.
This will cause the firm to be less efficient, and cause the long-run ATC curve to increase.
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Constant returns to scale:
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Here a firm's average cost does not change.
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Minimum Efficient Scale (MES)
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The lowest level of output at which a firm can minimize long-run average costs. This occurs at constant returns to scale.
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sunk cost
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Spent costs that cannot be recovered.
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explicit cost
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monetary payments to those who supply labor services. These payments are for the use of resources owned by others. These are all things you would see on a balance sheet. For example, paying for equipment, rent, wages, etc.
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implicit cost
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the opportunity costs of using self-owned resources. The money you could have made using the next best option for these resources. These are hidden costs, such as the opportunity cost of what your salary at the next best job. ex. giving workers a day off will lead to a drop of sales and income
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economic profit
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=total revenue - economic cost
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normal profit
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When Economic Profit = 0, it is a normal profit. This profit takes into account the implicit and explicit costs.
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Accountant profit
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=total revenue - explicit costs
Again, explicit costs are all things you would see on a balance sheet. Such as paying for equipment, rent, and wages. This type of profit you are used to seeing.
Again, explicit costs are all things you would see on a balance sheet. Such as paying for equipment, rent, and wages. This type of profit you are used to seeing.