Will a profit-maximising firm in a competitive market produce a positive level of output in the long run if the market price is less than the minimum of AC? Give an explanation.
It is not possible for a firm to produce positive level of output in the long run if the market price falls short of the minimum of AC. This is because in the long run there is free entry and exit of firms and all firms earn normal profit. Therefore any firm making losses in long run will stop production.
Let us understand this concept through an example:
At oq1 level of output
Price charged by the firm = OP.
Revenue generated by the firm (TR) = P × Q
= OP × Oq1
= area (rectangle Oq1LP)
Cost of producing Oq1 level of output (TC)= LAC × Quantity of output
ON × Oq1
TC = area (rectangle Oq1KN)
Profit earned by the firm = TR-TC
= area (rectangle Oq1Lp)-area (rectangle Oq1KN)
= - area (rectangle NKLP )
Thus the loss incurred by the firm is equal to the area of the rectangle NKLP.
In the long run all firms earn zero economic profit and if any firm earns loss or negative profit then the firm will shut down its production thus if the firm earn loss i.e. if price is lesser than LAC at any level of output it will not be the profit maximising output level of the firm.
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?
How does the imposition of a unit tax affect the supply curve of a firm?
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 the relation between market price and marginal revenue of a price-taking firm?
How does an increase in the number of firms in a market affect the market supply curve?
Compute the total revenue, marginal revenue and average revenue schedules in the following table. Market price of each unit of the good is Rs 10.
Quantity Sold | TR | MR | AR |
---|---|---|---|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
How does an increase in the price of an input affect the supply curve of a firm?
Can there be a positive level of output that a profit-maximising firm produces in a competitive market at which market price is not equal to marginal cost? Give an explanation.
Explain the concept of a production function
What would be the shape of the demand curve so that the total revenue curve is?
(a) A positively sloped straight line passing through the origin?
(b) A horizontal line?
Explain market equilibrium.
Discuss the central problems of an economy.
What do you mean by the budget set of a consumer?
What is the total product of input?
From the schedule provided below calculate the total revenue, demand curve and the price elasticity of demand:
Quantity |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Marginal Revenue |
10 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
When do we say that there is an excess demand for a commodity in the market?
What do you mean by the production possibilities of an economy?
What is budget line?
Discuss the subject matter of economics.
When do we say that there is an excess supply for a commodity in the market?
Distinguish between a centrally planned economy and a market economy.
What is meant by prices being rigid? How can oligopoly behavior lead to such an outcome?
How is the equilibrium number of firms determined in a market where entry and exit is permitted?
In what respect do the supply and demand curves in the labor market differ from those in the goods market?
What is the total product of input?
Can you think of any commodity on which the price ceiling is imposed in India? What may be the consequence of price-ceiling?
Suppose the price at which the equilibrium is attained in exercise 5 is above the minimum average cost of the firms constituting the market. Now if we allow for free entry and exit of firms, how will the market price adjust to it?
What do you understand by positive economic analysis?