Explain the concepts of the short run and the long run.
Short Run: In short run, a firm cannot change all the inputs, which means that the output can be increased (decreased) only by employing more (less) of the variable factor (labour). It is generally assumed that in short run a firm does not have sufficient or enough time to vary its fixed factors such as, installing a new machine, etc. Hence, the output levels vary only because of varying employment levels of the variable factor. Algebraically, the short run production function is expressed as
Qx= f (L,K)
Where,
Qx = units of output x produced
L = labour input
K = constant units of capital
Long Run: In long run, a firm can change all its inputs, which means that the output can be increased (decreased) by employing more (less) of both the inputs − variable and fixed factors. In the long run, all inputs (including capital) are variable and can be changed according to the required levels of output. The law that explains this long run concept is called return to scale. The long run production function is expressed as
Qx= f (L,K)
Both L and K are variable and can be varied.
What is the total product of input?
Explain the relationship between the marginal products and the total product of an input.
When does a production function satisfy decreasing returns to scale?
Why does the SMC curve cut the AVC curve at the minimum point of the AVC curve?
The following table gives the total product schedule of labour. Find the corresponding average product and marginal product schedules of labour.
What is the law of diminishing marginal product?
What do the long-run marginal cost and the average cost curves look like?
What are the average fixed cost, average variable cost and average cost of a firm? How are they related?
Briefly explain the concept of the cost function.
What does the average fixed cost curve look like? Why does it look so?
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 are the characteristics of a perfectly competitive market?
What do you mean by the budget set of a consumer?
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?
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?
How does an increase in the number of firms in a market affect the market supply curve?
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 price elasticity of demand.
What is budget line?
List the three different ways in which oligopoly firms may have.
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?
What is the relation between market price and average revenue of a price-taking 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?
Using supply and demand curves show how an increase in the price of shoes affects the price of a pair of socks and the number of pairs of socks bought and sold.
If a consumer has monotonic preferences, can she be indifferent between the
bundles (10, 8) and (8, 6)?