Ch09
Download as ppt, pdf1 like979 views
- Firms demand inputs based on the demand for the outputs those inputs can produce. Inputs are complementary or substitutable, and subject to diminishing returns. - A firm will demand an input as long as its marginal revenue product exceeds its cost. For a single variable input like labor, the firm's demand curve is the marginal revenue product curve. - When a firm uses multiple variable inputs, a change in input price causes substitution and output effects that impact factor demand. The firm will substitute cheaper factors for more expensive ones.
Ch09
- 1. Input Demand: The Labor and Land Markets
- 2. Firm Choices in Input Markets
- 3. Demand for Inputs: A Derived Demand Derived demand is demand for resources (inputs) that is dependent on the demand for the outputs those resources can be used to produce. Inputs are demanded by a firm if, and only if, households demand the good or service produced by that firm.
- 4. Inputs: Complementary and Substitutable The productivity of an input is the amount of output produced per unit of that input. Inputs can be complementary or substitutable. This means that a firm¡¯s input demands are tightly linked together.
- 5. Diminishing Returns Faced with a capacity constraint in the short-run, a firm that decides to increase output will eventually encounter diminishing returns. Marginal product of labor (MP L ) is the additional output produced by one additional unit of labor.
- 6. Marginal Revenue Product The marginal revenue product (MRP) of a variable input is the additional revenue a firm earns by employing one additional unit of input, ceteris paribus . MRP L equals the price of output, P X , times the marginal product of labor, MP L .
- 7. Marginal Revenue Product Per Hour of Labor in Sandwich Production (One Grill) 5.00 .50 10 35 3 2.50 .50 5 40 4 1.00 .50 2 42 5 a The ¡°price¡± is essentially profit per sandwich; see discussion in text. 0 .50 0 42 6 7.50 .50 15 25 2 5.00 $ .50 $ 10 10 1 ? ? ? 0 0 (5) MARGINAL REVENUE PRODUCT ( MP L X P X ) (PER HOUR) (4) PRICE ( P X ) (VALUE ADDED PER SANDWICH) a (3) MARGINAL PRODUCT OF LABOR ( MP L ) (SANDWICHES PER HOUR) (2) TOTAL PRODUCT (SANDWICHES PER HOUR) (1) TOTAL LABOR UNITS (EMPLOYEES)
- 8. Marginal Revenue Product Per Hour of Labor in Sandwich Production (One Grill) When output price is constant, the behavior of MRP L depends only on the behavior of MP L . Under diminishing returns, both MP L and MRP L eventually decline. MRP L = P X ? MP L
- 9. A Firm Using One Variable Factor of Production: Labor A competitive firm using only one variable factor of production will use that factor as long as its marginal revenue product exceeds its unit cost. If the firm uses only labor, then it will hire labor as long as MRP L is greater than the going wage, W*.
- 10. Marginal Revenue Product and Factor Demand for a Firm Using One Variable Input (Labor) The hypothetical firm will demand 210 units of labor. W * =MRP L = 10
- 11. Short-Run Demand Curve for a Factor of Production When a firm uses only one variable factor of production, that factor¡¯s marginal revenue product curve is the firm¡¯s demand curve for that factor in the short run.
- 12. Comparing Marginal Revenue and Marginal Cost to Maximize Profits Assuming that labor is the only variable input, if society values a good more than it costs firms to hire the workers to produce that good, the good will be produced. Firms weigh the value of outputs as reflected in output price against the value of inputs as reflected in marginal costs.
- 13. The Two Profit-Maximizing Conditions The two profit-maximizing conditions are simply two views of the same choice process.
- 14. The Trade-Off Facing Firms
- 15. A Firm Employing Two Variable Factors of Production Land, labor, and capital are used together to produce outputs. When an expanding firm adds to its stock of capital, it raises the productivity of its labor, and vice versa. Each factor complements the other.
- 16. Substitution and Output Effects of a Change in Factor Price Two effects occur when the price of an input changes: Factor substitution effect : The tendency of firms to substitute away from a factor whose price has risen and toward a factor whose price has fallen.
- 17. Substitution and Output Effects of a Change in Factor Price Two effects occur when the price of an input changes: Output effect of a factor price increase (decrease) : When a firm decreases (increases) its output in response to a factor price increase (decrease), this decreases (increases) its demand for all factors.
- 18. Substitution and Output Effects of a Change in Factor Price When P L = P K = $1, the labor-intensive method of producing output is less costly. Response of a Firm to an Increasing Wage Rate $23 $13 10 3 B (labor intensive) $20 $15 5 10 A (capital intensive) L K UNIT COST IF P L = $2 P K = $1 ( P L x L ) + ( P K x K ) UNIT COST IF P L = $1 P K = $1 ( P L x L ) + ( P K x K ) INPUT REQUIREMENTS PER UNIT OF OUTPUT TECHNOLOGY
- 19. Substitution and Output Effects of a Change in Factor Price When the price of labor rises, labor becomes more expensive relative to capital. The firm substitutes capital for labor and switches from technique B to technique A . The Substitution Effect of an Increase in Wages on a Firm Producing 100 Units of Output TO PRODUCE 100 UNITS OF OUTPUT $2,000 500 1,000 When P L = $2, P K = $1, firm uses technology A $1,300 1,000 300 When P L = $1, P K = $1, firm uses technology B TOTAL VARIABLE COST TOTAL LABOR DEMANDED TOTAL CAPITAL DEMANDED
- 20. Many Labor Markets If labor markets are competitive, the wages in those markets are determined by the interaction of supply and demand. Firms will hire workers only as long as the value of their product exceeds the relevant market wage. This is true in all competitive labor markets.
- 21. Land Markets Unlike labor and capital, the total supply of land is strictly fixed (perfectly inelastic.
- 22. Demand Determined Price The price of a good that is in fixed supply is demand determined . Because land is fixed in supply, its price is determined exclusively by what households and firms are willing to pay for it. The return to any factor of production in fixed supply is called pure rent .
- 23. Land in a Given Use Versus Land of a Given Quality The supply of land in a given use may not be perfectly inelastic or fixed. The supply of land of a given quality at a given location is truly fixed in supply.
- 24. Rent and the Value of Output Produced on Land A firm will pay for and use land as long as the revenue earned from selling the output produced on that land is sufficient to cover the price of the land. The firm will use land ( A ) up to the point at which: MRP A = P A
- 25. The Firm¡¯s Profit-Maximization Condition in Input Markets Profit-maximizing condition for the perfectly competitive firm is: P L = MRP L = ( MP L X P X ) P K = MRP K = ( MP K X P X ) P A = MRP A = ( MP A X P X ) where L is labor, K is capital, A is land (acres), X is output, and P X is the price of that output.
- 26. The Firm¡¯s Profit-Maximization Condition in Input Markets Profit-maximizing condition for the perfectly competitive firm, written another way is: In words, the marginal product of the last dollar spent on labor must be equal to the marginal product of the last dollar spent on capital, which must be equal to the marginal product of the last dollar spent on land, and so forth.
- 27. Input Demand Curves If product demand increases, product price will rise and marginal revenue product will increase.
- 28. Input Demand Curves If the productivity of labor increases, both marginal product and marginal revenue product will increase.
- 29. Impact of Capital Accumulation on Factor Demand The production and use of capital enhances the productivity of labor, and normally increases the demand for labor and drives up wages.
- 30. Impact of Technological Change Technological change refers to the introduction of new methods of production or new products intended to increase the productivity of existing inputs or to raise marginal products. Technological change can, and does, have a powerful influence on factor demands.