Profit Maximization and Shutdown Point (numerical example) A group of economists surveyed small business firms in July 2020 to find out about their production decisions during the beginning of the pandemic. Suppose a small business from their survey has the following information on output and costs. Output q 0 1 2345 Total Cost Marginal Cost Total Revenue (a) (b) P=$14 10 21 30 41 54 69 Marginal Revenue Profit=TR- TC (d) a) Calculate the MC, TR and MR and profits in Table 1 if the firm's product is $14 per unit. b) Is the marginal revenue changing? What is the economic reason for your answer? c) Given the price is $14, how much q should a firm produce to maximizes profits? What is the economic reason a firm does not produce more units? d) If a firm is making economic losses, it will produce or shutdown to minimize its losses (which is equivalent to maximizing profits). Theoretically, at what price will the firm shut down? 1 e) Calculate the firm's shutdown price. How many units will it produce? f) If the price is $12, would you expect the firm to produce or shut down? Briefly explain. What are the firm's economic profits (losses) if it decides to produce? What are its economic profits (losses) if it decides to shut down? Does this support your explanation? g) If the price fell below the price in (e) what should the firm do? Briefly explain.

ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
14th Edition
ISBN:9780190931919
Author:NEWNAN
Publisher:NEWNAN
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1QTC
icon
Related questions
Question

Please only solve parts d, e, and f.

---

### Profit Maximization and Shutdown Point (Numerical Example)

A group of economists surveyed small business firms in July 2020 to find out about their production decisions during the beginning of the pandemic. Suppose a small business from their survey has the following information on output and costs.

| Output (q) | Total Cost | Marginal Cost (a) | Total Revenue (b) P=$14 | Marginal Revenue | Profit = TR - TC (d) |
|------------|------------|-------------------|------------------------|------------------|----------------------|
| 0          | 10         |                   |                        |                  |                      |
| 1          | 21         |                   |                        |                  |                      |
| 2          | 30         |                   |                        |                  |                      |
| 3          | 41         |                   |                        |                  |                      |
| 4          | 54         |                   |                        |                  |                      |
| 5          | 69         |                   |                        |                  |                      |

**Questions:**

a) Calculate the MC, TR, and MR and profits in Table 1 if the firm’s product is $14 per unit.

b) Is the marginal revenue changing? What is the economic reason for your answer?

c) Given the price is $14, how much \( q \) should a firm produce to maximize profits? What is the economic reason a firm does not produce more units?

d) If a firm is making economic losses, it will produce or shutdown to minimize its losses (which is equivalent to maximizing profits). Theoretically, at what price will the firm shut down?

e) Calculate the firm’s shutdown price. How many units will it produce?

f) If the price is $12, would you expect the firm to produce or shut down? Briefly explain. What are the firm’s economic profits (losses) if it decides to produce? What are its economic profits (losses) if it decides to shut down? Does this support your explanation?

g) If the price fell below the price in (e) what should the firm do? Briefly explain.

--- 

**Graph/Diagram Explanation:**

No graphs or diagrams are provided in this example. The table provides data on outputs and costs to be further analyzed.

---
Transcribed Image Text:--- ### Profit Maximization and Shutdown Point (Numerical Example) A group of economists surveyed small business firms in July 2020 to find out about their production decisions during the beginning of the pandemic. Suppose a small business from their survey has the following information on output and costs. | Output (q) | Total Cost | Marginal Cost (a) | Total Revenue (b) P=$14 | Marginal Revenue | Profit = TR - TC (d) | |------------|------------|-------------------|------------------------|------------------|----------------------| | 0 | 10 | | | | | | 1 | 21 | | | | | | 2 | 30 | | | | | | 3 | 41 | | | | | | 4 | 54 | | | | | | 5 | 69 | | | | | **Questions:** a) Calculate the MC, TR, and MR and profits in Table 1 if the firm’s product is $14 per unit. b) Is the marginal revenue changing? What is the economic reason for your answer? c) Given the price is $14, how much \( q \) should a firm produce to maximize profits? What is the economic reason a firm does not produce more units? d) If a firm is making economic losses, it will produce or shutdown to minimize its losses (which is equivalent to maximizing profits). Theoretically, at what price will the firm shut down? e) Calculate the firm’s shutdown price. How many units will it produce? f) If the price is $12, would you expect the firm to produce or shut down? Briefly explain. What are the firm’s economic profits (losses) if it decides to produce? What are its economic profits (losses) if it decides to shut down? Does this support your explanation? g) If the price fell below the price in (e) what should the firm do? Briefly explain. --- **Graph/Diagram Explanation:** No graphs or diagrams are provided in this example. The table provides data on outputs and costs to be further analyzed. ---
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 4 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Accounting Profits
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Recommended textbooks for you
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Economics
ISBN:
9780190931919
Author:
NEWNAN
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134078779
Author:
Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:
PEARSON
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134870069
Author:
William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling
Publisher:
PEARSON
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:
9781337106665
Author:
Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Economics
ISBN:
9781259290619
Author:
Michael Baye, Jeff Prince
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education