FILE: 251N06.HTML

2005SEP27/TO SEP29

 

CLASS NOTES FOR ECONOMICS 251

DR. WILLIAM SHINGLETON

THESE NOTES ARE FOR WEEK 6

 

REVIEW/COMPLETE COST

 

THE COMPETITIVE FIRM                         CH 22

 

PROFIT AND CAPITAL

NORMAL PROFIT

DEFINITION

ROLE

 

ECONOMIC PROFIT

DEFINITION

ROLE

 

PROFITS

ACCOUNTING = NORMAL + ECONOMIC

NORMAL = OPPORTUNITY COST OF RESOURCES

 

 

VENTURE CAPITAL

ROLE OF THE ENTREPRENEUR

APPLE COMPUTER

MCDONALDS

HIGH FAILURE RATE/RISK

 

NECESSARY RESOURCE

NORMAL PROFIT AS A COST

MINIMUM PROFIT NECESSARY

CREATES/DESTROYS MARKETS/JOBS/TECHNOLOGY

NO CHEERS

 


SURVIVORSHIP PRINCIPLE I AND II

BUYOUT OF FIRMS WHO DO NOT MAXIMIZE PROFITS

SHARE PRICES REFLECT MANAGEMENT'S EXPECTED FUTURE

PROFIT STREAM

 

IF EVERYBODY DOES IT IT MUST BE CORRECT

 


 

MARKET STRUCTURE

DEFINE

PLANT

FIRM

INDUSTRY

 

TYPES OF INDUSTRIES/THE SPECTRUM

PERFECT COMPETITION

MONOPOLISTIC COMPETITION

OLIGOPOLY

DUOPOLY

MONOPOLY

 


 

PRICE TAKING FIRMS

CAUSE

TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

LARGE NUMBER OF PRODUCERS

HOMOGENEOUS PRODUCTS

 

OR REGULATED PRICE

 

GOAL: ECONOMIC PROFIT

 

INDUSTRY DEMAND VS FIRM DEMAND (SKETCH)

 

 

 

 

TOTAL REVENUE

 

MARGINAL REVENUE

 

 


OPERATING RULES FOR PRICE TAKING FIRMS

START

MARKET PRICE = MARGINAL REVENUE FOR FIRM

Q = OPERATING RATE

 

ALL CASES REPRESENT PRICE TAKERS AND QUANTITY ADJUSTERS

 

CASE 1... P < MIN AVC

SHORT RUN

THE INTERSECTION RULE

BEST Q = 0

SHUT DOWN PRICE

LOSS = FIXED COST

 

LONG RUN

LIQUIDATION


 

CASE 2... P > MIN AVC BUT P < MIN ATC

STRESS NEED TO KNOW COST STRUCTURE

SHORT RUN

CHOOSE Q SUCH THAT MR = P = MC

BREAK EVEN PRICE

LOSS < FIXED COST

HOW TO SHOW ECONOMIC LOSS

 

LONG RUN

LIQUIDATION


 

CASE 3...    P = MIN ATC

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT Q* ?

SHORT RUN P VS AVC

SET Q AT P = MR = MC

LONG RUN P VS ATC

SET Q AT P = MR = MC

HOW TO SHOW ECONOMIC PROFIT (= 0)

 


CASE 4...    P > MIN ATC

SHORT RUN P VS AVC

SET Q AT P = MR = MC

LONG RUN P VS ATC

SET Q AT P = MR = MC

PROFIT MARGIN = P - ATC

MAXIMUM PROFIT MARGIN IS NOT MAXIMUM TOTAL PROFIT

PROFIT = P*Q - ATC*Q

HOW TO SHOW ECONOMIC PROFIT

 


 

SUMMARY

 

 

SUPPLY CURVE OF FIRM

SHORT RUN FROM MC CURVE ABOVE AVC

LONG RUN FROM MC CURVE ABOVE ATC

 

 

 

INDUSTRY SUPPLY

INDUSTRY SUPPLY CURVE... SHORT RUN

ECONOMIC PROFITS AND LOSSES AS MARKET SIGNALS

NO ENTRY/EXIT

THE ROLE OF EQUILIBRIUM

 

 

 

INDUSTRY SUPPLY CURVE... LONG RUN

ECONOMIC PROFITS AND LOSSES AS MARKET SIGNALS

FREE ENTRY/FREE EXIT

THE ROLE OF EQUILIBRIUM

 



COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY

FREE ENTRY AND EXIT

HOMOGENEITY

MANY SELLERS

MANY BUYERS


 

 

EXAMPLES/AS TIME ALLOWS

 

STORY GUIDELINES

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT...

NO, THAT'S NOT IT.  LET ME TRY AGAIN.

 

USE TWO DIAGRAMS

ONE FOR THE FIRM

ONE FOR THE INDUSTRY

START AT EQUILIBRIUM

END AT EQUILIBRIUM

GIVE A REASON FOR EACH AND EVERY CHANGE

THE MOTIVATION OF THE FIRM IS PROFIT

SHOW ECONOMIC PROFIT OR ECONOMIC LOSS

SHORTAGES/SURPLUSES ARE INFORMATION SIGNALS

 

INDUSTRY SUPPLY CURVE... SHORT RUN

INDUSTRY SUPPLY CURVE... LONG RUN

THE ROLE OF EQUILIBRIUM AND PROFITS

 

          LONG RUN SUPPLY FOR EACH

EFFECT OF DEMAND INCREASE FOR EACH

ILLUSTRATE ECONOMIC PROFIT/ECONOMIC LOSS AREA