Explain the concepts of the short run and the long run.
Short Run: In short run, a firm cannot change all the inputs, which means that the output can be increased (decreased) only by employing more (less) of the variable factor (labour). It is generally assumed that in short run a firm does not have sufficient or enough time to vary its fixed factors such as, installing a new machine, etc. Hence, the output levels vary only because of varying employment levels of the variable factor. Algebraically, the short run production function is expressed as
Qx= f (L,K)
Where,
Qx = units of output x produced
L = labour input
K = constant units of capital
Long Run: In long run, a firm can change all its inputs, which means that the output can be increased (decreased) by employing more (less) of both the inputs − variable and fixed factors. In the long run, all inputs (including capital) are variable and can be changed according to the required levels of output. The law that explains this long run concept is called return to scale. The long run production function is expressed as
Qx= f (L,K)
Both L and K are variable and can be varied.
What is the supply curve of a firm in the long run?
The market price of a good changes from Rs 5 to Rs 20. As a result, the quantity supplied by a firm increases by 15 units. The price elasticity of the firm’s supply curve is 0.5. Find the initial and final output levels of the firm.
A firm earns a revenue of Rs 50 when the market price of a good is Rs 10. The market price increases to Rs 15 and the firm now earns a revenue of Rs 150. What is the price elasticity of the firm’s supply curve?
Distinguish between a centrally planned economy and a market economy.
How does the imposition of a unit tax affect the supply curve of a firm?
A consumer wants to consume two goods. The prices of the two goods are Rs 4
and Rs 5 respectively. The consumer’s income is Rs 20.
(i) Write down the equation of the budget line.
(ii) How much of good 1 can the consumer consume if she spends her entire
income on that good?
(iii) How much of good 2 can she consume if she spends her entire income on
that good?
(iv) What is the slope of the budget line?
Questions 5, 6 and 7 are related to question 4.
What is the relation between market price and average revenue of a price-taking firm?
What is budget line?
Suppose there are 20 consumers for a good and they have identical demand functions:
d(p)=10–3pd(p)=10–3p for any price less than or equal to 103103 and d1(p)=0d1(p)=0 at any price greater than 103.
Suppose your friend is indifferent to the bundles (5, 6) and (6, 6). Are the preferences of your friend monotonic?
Consider the demand curve D (p) = 10 – 3p. What is the elasticity at price 53?
Distinguish between a centrally planned economy and a market economy.
What do you mean by ‘monotonic preferences’?
Consider the demand for a good. At price Rs 4, the demand for the good is 25 units. Suppose the price of the good increases to Rs 5, and as a result, the demand for the good falls to 20 units. Calculate the price elasticity.
If a consumer has monotonic preferences, can she be indifferent between the
bundles (10, 8) and (8, 6)?
What is the supply curve of a firm in the long run?
What is the relation between market price and average revenue of a price-taking firm?
What is budget line?
The market price of a good changes from Rs 5 to Rs 20. As a result, the quantity supplied by a firm increases by 15 units. The price elasticity of the firm’s supply curve is 0.5. Find the initial and final output levels of the firm.
What happens to the budget set if both the prices as well as the income double?