How is the optimal amount of labor determined in a perfectly competitive market?
A profit maximising firm will employ labour up to the point where the extra cost incurred by employing the last unit of labour (wage) equals the additional benefit it earns by employing that unit of labour.
That is, Marginal cost of labour = Marginal benefit by labour
Or, Wage rate = Marginal Revenue ProductL
Or, w = MRPL
Or, w = MR × MPL (as MRPL =MR ×MPL)
Or, w = P× MPL (in Perfect Competition Price = MR)
Or, w = VMPL (because VMPL= P ×MPL)
The demand for labour is derived from VMPL and the supply of labour is positively sloped. The equilibrium exists at E, where the demand for labour and the supply of labour intersect each other. The equilibrium wage rate is w and optimal amount of labour is qL.
How will a change in the price of coffee affect the equilibrium price of tea? Explain the effect on equilibrium quantity also through a diagram.
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?
When do we say that there is an excess demand for a commodity in the market?
When do we say that there is an excess supply for a commodity in the market?
Explain through a diagram the effect of a rightward shift of both the demand and supply curves on equilibrium price and quantity.
Suppose the market determined rent for apartments is too high for common people to afford. If the government comes forward to help those seeking apartments on rent by imposing control on rent, what impact will it have on the market for apartments?
In what respect do the supply and demand curves in the labor market differ from those in the goods market?
Explain how price is determined in a perfectly competitive market with a fixed number of firms.
Explain market equilibrium.
Suppose the demand and supply curves of salt are given by:
(a) Find the equilibrium price and quantity.
(b) Now, suppose that the price of an input that used to produce salt has increased so, that the new supply curve is qs = 400 + 3p
How does the equilibrium price and quantity change? Does the change conform to your expectation?
(a) Suppose the government has imposed at ax of Rs 3 per unit of sale on salt. How does it affect the equilibrium rice quantity?
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?
Discuss the central problems of an economy.
What are the characteristics of a perfectly competitive market?
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 |
- |
What do you mean by the production possibilities of an economy?
How are the total revenue of a firm, market price, and the quantity sold by the firm related to each other?
What is budget line?
What are the average fixed cost, average variable cost and average cost of a firm? How are they related?
What is the average product of an input?
What are the characteristics of a perfectly competitive market?
What are the total fixed cost, total variable cost and total cost of a firm? How are they related?
Will a profit-maximising firm in a competitive market ever produce a positive level of output in the range where the marginal cost is falling? Give an explanation.
The following table shows the total cost schedule of a firm. What is the total fixed cost schedule of this firm? Calculate the TVC, AFC, AVC, SAC and SMC schedules of the firm.
When does a production function satisfy constant returns to scale?
What is the marginal product of an input?
What is the law of variable proportions?
What is the total product of input?