CHAPTER 6
PB 102 - MICROECONOMIC
1. WHAT IS PRODUCTION
2. PRODUCTION TERMINOLOGIES:
FIRMS, INDUSTRIES AND TIME PERIOD
3. PRODUCTION CONCEPT
Short Run Production: TP, AP, MP – Law of
Diminishing Marginal Returns
Long Run Production: Law of Returns to Scale
WHAT IS PRODUCTION ?
Transformation of input into output
process

fixed input
Qtty of input not
change according
to output

factors
of prod

goods/services/
finished product
variable input

Qtty of input change
with output
FACTORS OF PRODUCTION
LAND

LABOUR

Factory / place
used to produce
product

No of workers
employed to
produce
product

CAPITAL

ENTERPRENEUR

Amount of
The person who
materials and give the idea to
equipment used run the business
in production
/ production
PRODUCTION
TERMINOLOGIES
FIRMS – exist & make decisions in using factors of prod to
produce output in order to maximize profit
INDUSTRIES – market to the production of an economic good
or service within an economy
TIME PERIOD - time frame
 Short run: time frame which at least ONE (1) input is fixed
but other input is varied
 Long run: time frame which ALL inputs are variable
SHORT RUN PRODUCTION
AT LEAST ONE (1) INPUTS IS FIXED BUT OTHER INPUTS ARE VARIABLE

EQUATION

Total Product
(TP)
Amount of
output with a
given input

Average Product
(AP)

AP = TP / TL

Marginal
Product (MP)

MP = change in TP
change in TL
Capital
(Fixed input)

Labour
(Variable
input)

Total Product
(TP)

10

0

0

10

1

8

10

2

20

10

3

33

10

4

44

10

5

50

10

6

54

10

7

56

10

8

56

10

9

54

10

10

50

Marginal
Product
(MP)

Average
Product
(AP)

Stages of
Product
continueâ€Ļ
Short Run Production
TP/AP/MP

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

STAGE 3

Remarks:

TP

AP

MP

Variable input
(Labour)
continueâ€Ļ
Short Run Production
LAW OF DIMINISHING MARGINAL RETURNS
At a certain level of production, if the variable input increase
with the same amount of fixed input, MP will decrease
STAGE 1

STAGE 2

STAGE 3

Increasing Returns

Diminishing Returns

Negative Returns

Starts from AP =
MP until MP = 0
where TP is max.

Starts from MP=0
and continues

TP at diminishing
rate – AP & MP
decrease but still
+ve.

TP decrease, MP
become –ve, AP
continue decrease

Starts from ‘0’ until
AP intersect with
MP (AP = MP)
where AP is max.
continueâ€Ļ
Short Run Production
TP/AP/MP

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

STAGE 3

Remarks:

TP

AP

MP

Variable input
(Labour)
continueâ€Ļ
Short Run Production
MOST EFFICIENT STAGE OF PRODUCTION

STAGE 2
Diminishing Returns

Fixed input & variable input are fully utilized

Firm prefer to produce at this stage
TP/AP/MP

STAGE
1

STAGE
2

STAGE
3

RELATIONSHIP

TP

MP & TP
Variable
input
(Labour)
TP/AP/MP

STAGE
1

STAGE
2

STAGE
3

MP

Variable
input
(Labour)

Refer page 113
TP/AP/MP

RELATIONSHIP
STAGE
1

STAGE
2

STAGE
3

MP & AP

AP
Variable
input
(Labour)

MP
Refer page 113
LONG RUN PRODUCTION
ALL INPUTS ARE VARIABLES

LAW OF RETURNS TO SCALE
The effect to change of output when all input change
proportionately

Increasing
Returns to Scale

Constant Returns
to Scale

Decreasing
Returns to Scale

Output increase >
increase in input

Output increase =
increase in input

Output increase <
increase in input

Input increase
50%, output
increase 80%

Input increase
50%, output
increase 50%

Input increase
50%, output
increase 20%

Chapter 6 production theory 24022013

Editor's Notes

  • #11 Againts the law of supplySubstitution effect: higher wage rate, increase working hours, reduce leisure hours (additional pay for extra hours work)Income effect: an increase in income to max, will reduce labour supplied (labour want to relax more)
  • #13 Againts the law of supplySubstitution effect: higher wage rate, increase working hours, reduce leisure hours (additional pay for extra hours work)Income effect: an increase in income to max, will reduce labour supplied (labour want to relax more)
  • #15 Againts the law of supplySubstitution effect: higher wage rate, increase working hours, reduce leisure hours (additional pay for extra hours work)Income effect: an increase in income to max, will reduce labour supplied (labour want to relax more)
  • #16 Againts the law of supplySubstitution effect: higher wage rate, increase working hours, reduce leisure hours (additional pay for extra hours work)Income effect: an increase in income to max, will reduce labour supplied (labour want to relax more)