Consider the competitive market for steel. Assume that, regardless of how many firms are in industry, every firm in the industry is identical and faces the marginal cost (MC), average tota (ATC), and average variable cost (AVC) curves shown on the following graph. COSTS (Dollars per ton) 80 72 64 56 48 40 32 24 16 8 0 0 3 MC ATC 0 AVC 0 0 9 12 15 18 QUANTITY (Thousands of tons) 21 24 27 30 The following diagram shows the market demand for steel. Use the orange points (square symbol) to plot the initial short-run industry supply curve wher there are 20 firms in the market. (Hint: You can disregard the portion of the supply curve tha corresponds to prices where there is no output since this is the industry supply curve.) Next, the purple points (diamond symbol) to plot the short-run industry supply curve when there ar firms. Finally, use the green points (triangle symbol) to plot the short-run industry supply cur when there are 60 firms.

Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
8th Edition
ISBN:9781337091992
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:N. Gregory Mankiw
Chapter13: Firms In Competitive Markets
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 10PA
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Consider the competitive market for steel. Assume that, regardless of how many firms are in the
industry, every firm in the industry is identical and faces the marginal cost (MC), average total cost
(ATC), and average variable cost (AVC) curves shown on the following graph.
COSTS (Dollars per ton)
80
72
64
56
48
40
32
24
16
8
0
0
MC
ATC
□
0
AVC
3 6
9 12 15 18
QUANTITY (Thousands of tons)
+
21
24 27 30
The following diagram shows the market demand for steel.
(?)
Use the orange points (square symbol) to plot the initial short-run industry supply curve when
there are 20 firms in the market. (Hint: You can disregard the portion of the supply curve that
corresponds to prices where there is no output since this is the industry supply curve.) Next, use
the purple points (diamond symbol) to plot the short-run industry supply curve when there are 40
firms. Finally, use the green points (triangle symbol) to plot the short-run industry supply curve
when there are 60 firms.
Transcribed Image Text:Consider the competitive market for steel. Assume that, regardless of how many firms are in the industry, every firm in the industry is identical and faces the marginal cost (MC), average total cost (ATC), and average variable cost (AVC) curves shown on the following graph. COSTS (Dollars per ton) 80 72 64 56 48 40 32 24 16 8 0 0 MC ATC □ 0 AVC 3 6 9 12 15 18 QUANTITY (Thousands of tons) + 21 24 27 30 The following diagram shows the market demand for steel. (?) Use the orange points (square symbol) to plot the initial short-run industry supply curve when there are 20 firms in the market. (Hint: You can disregard the portion of the supply curve that corresponds to prices where there is no output since this is the industry supply curve.) Next, use the purple points (diamond symbol) to plot the short-run industry supply curve when there are 40 firms. Finally, use the green points (triangle symbol) to plot the short-run industry supply curve when there are 60 firms.
PRICE (Dollars per ton)
80
72
64
56
48
40
32
24
16
8
0
0
Demand
120 240 360 480 600 720 840 960 1080 1200
QUANTITY (Thousands of tons)
Supply (20 firms)
Supply (40 firms)
Supply (60 firms)
True
False
(?)
If there were 60 firms in this market, the short-run equilibrium price of steel would be
$
per ton. At that price, firms in this industry would
Therefore, in the long run, firms would
the steel market.
Because you know that competitive firms earn
economic profit in the long run, you
know the long-run equilibrium price must be $
per ton. From the graph, you can see that
this means there will be firms operating in the steel industry in long-run equilibrium.
True or False: Assuming implicit costs are positive, each of the firms operating in this industry in
the long run earns positive accounting profit.
Transcribed Image Text:PRICE (Dollars per ton) 80 72 64 56 48 40 32 24 16 8 0 0 Demand 120 240 360 480 600 720 840 960 1080 1200 QUANTITY (Thousands of tons) Supply (20 firms) Supply (40 firms) Supply (60 firms) True False (?) If there were 60 firms in this market, the short-run equilibrium price of steel would be $ per ton. At that price, firms in this industry would Therefore, in the long run, firms would the steel market. Because you know that competitive firms earn economic profit in the long run, you know the long-run equilibrium price must be $ per ton. From the graph, you can see that this means there will be firms operating in the steel industry in long-run equilibrium. True or False: Assuming implicit costs are positive, each of the firms operating in this industry in the long run earns positive accounting profit.
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