Question

Marginal Analysis: Suppose factor prices for labour and capital are w = 4 and r =...

Marginal Analysis: Suppose factor prices for labour and capital are w = 4 and r = 8. At the observed amount of capital and labour the marginal product of capital is observed to be 15 and the marginal product of labour 5. Is the firm profit maximizing? Explain how it could increase its profits.

0 0
Add a comment Improve this question Transcribed image text
Answer #1

Firm is maximizing profits if Marginal product of labor/w = Marginal product of capital/r
Marginal product of labor/w = 5/4 = 1.25
Marginal product of capital/r = 15/8 = 1.875
So, the firm is not maximizing profits as Marginal product of labor/w < Marginal product of capital/r. So, to increase its profits, firm should increase its use of capital and decrease its use of labor.

Add a comment
Know the answer?
Add Answer to:
Marginal Analysis: Suppose factor prices for labour and capital are w = 4 and r =...
Your Answer:

Post as a guest

Your Name:

What's your source?

Earn Coins

Coins can be redeemed for fabulous gifts.

Not the answer you're looking for? Ask your own homework help question. Our experts will answer your question WITHIN MINUTES for Free.
Similar Homework Help Questions
  • 1. Opportunity Costs: Explain whether private health care is more costly than public health care because...

    1. Opportunity Costs: Explain whether private health care is more costly than public health care because private health care providers make profits. 2. Marginal Analysis: Suppose factor prices for labour and capital are w = 4 and r = 8. At the observed amount of capital and labour the marginal product of capital is observed to be 15 and the marginal product of labour 5. Is the firm profit maximizing? Explain how it could increase its profits.

  • . Suppose afirm is hiring labour and capital and that the ratio of marginal products of...

    . Suppose afirm is hiring labour and capital and that the ratio of marginal products of the two inputs is greater than the ratio of input prices. Does this imply that the firm is maximizing profit? Why or why not? 4. Explain how the slope of the labour supply curve affects the fraction of employers payroll-tax costs actually passed on to employees in the form of lower wages.

  • Suppose that capital costs $50 per unit and labour costs $20 per unit. If the marginal...

    Suppose that capital costs $50 per unit and labour costs $20 per unit. If the marginal product of capital is 100 and the marginal product of labour is 30, a cost-minimizing firm should employ more of both capital and labour. employ less of both capital and labour. employ more capital and less labour. employ less capital and more labour. not change its current factor use.

  • 1. Suppose that, for the production process for quarks, labour and capital are gross complements. Using...

    1. Suppose that, for the production process for quarks, labour and capital are gross complements. Using isoquant / isocost analysis, illustrate how the long-run quantity-demanded for labour would be affected by a decrease in the cost of capital. Illustrate both the “substitution effect” and the “scale effect.” 2. Suppose capital and labour are perfect substitutes for producing widgets and that it takes 1 unit of capital or 3 units of labour to produce one widget. If the price of labour...

  • Question 2: Firms Consider a firm that produces output Y from capital K and labour N...

    Question 2: Firms Consider a firm that produces output Y from capital K and labour N using the production iechoolopy Y KNdThe f's capital endowcnt is piven as K 50 Labour is hired to maximize profits. At a wage rate w, the firm's labour costs are wN The firm's profit (as a function of N is therefore 1. Find the firm's labour demand function by maximizing profits and solving the fist order condition for the wage rate w. 2. Plot...

  • (3) At current factor prices and given its current level of capital, if it sets price...

    (3) At current factor prices and given its current level of capital, if it sets price equal to short run marginal cost it chooses QR- 20.ISMC(SR,w.r,K) 10, SAVC(Q, w,r, K) 8, and SAFC(Q, w,r,K) -9, what is the firm's profits in the short run? Will it shut down or operate in the short run?

  • Assume the wage rate is w=$2, and the rental rate of capital is r=$7. The marginal...

    Assume the wage rate is w=$2, and the rental rate of capital is r=$7. The marginal product of labor is MPL=30, and the marginal product of capital is MPK=90. If the firm wishes to minimize its production costs, and continue to produce the same level of output, it should: a) increase capital, reduce labor b) increase labor, reduce capital c) do nothing d) increase both capital and labor

  • A firm uses labour and capital to produce output according to the production function ??(??, ??) = 4??0.5??0.5, where L...

    A firm uses labour and capital to produce output according to the production function ??(??, ??) = 4??0.5??0.5, where L is the number of units of labour and K is the units of capital. The cost of labour is $40 a unit and the cost of capital is $10 a unit. a) On a graph, draw an isocost line for this firm, showing combinations of capital and labour that cost $400 and another isocost line showing combinations that cost $200....

  • Labour Demand with Monopsony in the Labour Market and Perfect Competition in the Output Market in...

    Labour Demand with Monopsony in the Labour Market and Perfect Competition in the Output Market in Short Run. Suppose a monopsony has a production function Q = 2L. The firm sells its output in a perfectly competitive market at a price of $200 and its market supply of labor is w=20L. a. Determine the profit-maximizing level of employment and wage offered by the firm. b. Make a diagram. Explain why Marginal Cost of Labour increases at a faster rate than...

  • SM 3. A firm uses capital K, labour L, and land T to produce units of...

    SM 3. A firm uses capital K, labour L, and land T to produce units of a commodity, where Q=K2/3+ 1/2+/3 Suppose that the firm is paid a positive price p for each unit it produces, and that the positive prices it pays per unit of capital, labour, and land are r, w, and q, respectively. (a) Express the firm's profits as a function of (K,L,T). Then, find the values of K, L, and T, as functions of the four...

ADVERTISEMENT
Free Homework Help App
Download From Google Play
Scan Your Homework
to Get Instant Free Answers
Need Online Homework Help?
Ask a Question
Get Answers For Free
Most questions answered within 3 hours.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT