3.3.2 Costs (in the short run)

Definition & Formulae of total cost

• Total cost = cost of producing a given level of output

• TC = FC + VC

• Note that fixed costs only happen in the short run as it can only happen when at least one factor or production is fixed

• Variable costs can happen in both short run & long run

What are the 2 types of total costs (every type of cost, there’s a fixed & a variable)

• Total fixed costs (TFC)

  • cost that remains constant regardless of quantity produced (ie. rent)

  • TFC = TC - TVC

• Total variable costs (TVC)

  • cost that increased with qty produced (ie. cost of ingredients)

  • TVC = TC - TFC

Note: wages (per output produced) so variable

salary (same every month, has a contract) so fixed

Definition & Formulae of average cost

• Average cost = cost per unit of output

• TC / Q

Definition & Formulae of average fixed cost

• Average fixed cost = fixed cost per unit of output

• AFC = TFC / Q

Definition & Formulae of average variable cost

• Average variable cost = variable cost per unit of output

• AVC = TVC / Q

Definition & Formulae of marginal cost

• Marginal cost = cost to the firm of making one more unit of output

• MC = change in TC / change in Q

Derivation of short-run cost curves from the assumption of diminishing marginal productivity

The reason that the cost curves are going down and up again like a parabola is because of diminishing marginal productivity :

Fixed factors of production: land of the bakery shop

Variable factors of production: number of workers

Diminishing marginal productivity = for an additional unit of labour, the additional increase in productivity declines

→ MC increase

Example of the law:

ie when making cake: at first, when workers are added, they may become specialized - efficient → an additional unit of labour →increasing marginal productivity → more additional output→ MC falls (less cost to produce one more unit of output)

After some point: diminishing marginal productivity sets in → an additional unit of labour → MP falls → less additional output (as more crowded) → cost more to produce an extra output → MC increases at a faster rate

This only happens in the short run because in the long run, they can expand the space in the shop

The relationship between short-run & long-run average cost curves

• In the short run, at least one factor of production is fixed

  • output only increases when additional units of variable factors (ie. labour) are added to the fixed factor (ie. land) until diminishing marginal productivity sets in where output starts to fall

• In the long run, all factors of production are variable, not fixed so won’t experience diminishing marginal productivity. Therefore, the cost curve will be slightly different

Example of production in the short run shown in a table

Relationship between average cost & marginal cost

• IMPORTANT: MC always cut AC at its lowest point which can be explained by the following:

• If marginal cost above average cost → average cost rise

• If marginal cost below average cost → average cost fall

• If marginal cost = average cost → average cost stays the same

asks a lot in exam