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Suppose that a firm in a perfectly competitive industry finds that at its current output rate, marginal revenue exceeds the minimum average total cost of producing any feasible rate of output. Furthermore, Marginal revenue (MR)is that the increase in revenue that results from the saleof 1 additional unit of output. While marginal revenue can remain constant overa specific level of output, it follows from the law of diminishing returnsand can eventuallyblock because the output level increases. Intheory, perfectly competitive firms continue producing output until marginal revenue equalsincremental cost.
Is the firm maximizing its economic profits? Why or why not?

Short Answer

Expert verified
  • The cost must be proportionate to the marginal revenue in order to maximize profit.
  • As a result, the company's output rate should be increased.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction

  • The increase in income that results from the sale of an extra unit is referred to as the sales cost (MR).
  • While marginal income can remain constant for a limited amount of production, as output levels climb, the law of diminishing returns mandates that it will eventually plateau. In theory, perfectly competitive businesses will keep producing until marginal income equals incremental costs.
02

Given Information

The firm is producing an output rate at whichmonetary value is a smaller amount thanthe typical total cost at that rate of output.

03

Explanation

  • If the incremental cost is a smaller amount than the common total cost, then it indicates that the cost curve is belowthe common cost curve.
    It means the price is a smaller amount than the marginal revenue. Thus, the firm isn't maximizing the profit.
  • In the perfectly competitive industry, to maximize the profit, cost should be adequate the marginal revenue.
  • Thus, the firm should increase the speed of output

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The minimum feasible long-run average cost for firms in a perfectly competitive industry is $40per unit. If every firm in the industry currently is producing an output consistent with a long-run equilibrium, what is the marginal cost incurred by each firm? What is the market price?

Identify the characteristics of a perfectly competitive market structure

Yesterday, a perfectly competitive producer of construction bricks manufactured and sold10,000 bricks per week at a market price that was just equal to the minimum average variable cost of producing each brick. Today, all the firm's costs are the same. but the market price of bricks has declined.

a. Assuming that this firm has positive fixed costs, did the firm earn economic profits, economic losses, or zero economic profits yesterday?

b. To maximize economic profits today, how many bricks should this firm produce today?

Understand how the short-run supply curve for a perfectly competitive firm is determined

Consider the diagram nearby, which applies to a perfectly competitive firm, which at present faces a market clearing price of \(20per unit and produces 10,000units of output per week.

a. What is the firm's current average revenue per unit?

b. What are the present economic profits of this firm? Is the firm maximizing economic profits? Explain.

c. If the market clearing price drops to \)12.50per unit, should this firm continue to produce in the short run if it wishes to maximize its economic profits (or minimize its economic losses)? Explain.

d. If the market clearing price drops to $7.50per unit, should this firm continue to produce in the short run if it wishes to maximize its economic profits (or minimize its economic loses)? Explain.

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