Chapter 6 production

Topics to be Discussed
 The Technology of Production
 Isoquants
 Production with One Variable Input
(Labor)
 Production with Two Variable Inputs
 Returns to Scale

Introduction
 Our focus is the supply side.
 The theory of the firm will address:
How a firm makes cost-minimizing
production decisions
How cost varies with output
Characteristics of market supply
Issues of business regulation

The Technology of Production
 The Production Process
Combining inputs or factors of production
to achieve an output
 Categories of Inputs (factors of
production)
Labor
Materials
Capital

 Production Function:
Indicates the highest output that a firm can
produce for every specified combination of
inputs given the state of technology.
Shows what is technically feasible when
the firm operates efficiently.

 The production function for two inputs:
Q = F(K,L)
Q = Output, K = Capital, L = Labor
 For a given technology

Isoquants
 Assumptions
Food producer has two inputs
 Labor (L) & Capital (K)

Isoquants
 Observations:
1) For any level of K, output increases
with more L.
2) For any level of L, output increases
with more K.
3) Various combinations of inputs
produce the same output.

Isoquants
 Isoquants
Curves showing all possible combinations
of inputs that yield the same output

Production Function for Food
1 20 40 55 65 75
2 40 60 75 85 90
3 55 75 90 100 105
4 65 85 100 110 115
5 75 90 105 115 120
Capital Input 1 2 3 4 5
Labor Input

Production with Two Variable Inputs (L,K)
Labor per year
1
2
3
4
1 2 3 4 5
5
Q1 = 55
The isoquants are derived
from the production
function for output of
of 55, 75, and 90.A
D
B
Q2 = 75
Q3 = 90
C
E
Capital
per year The Isoquant MapThe Isoquant Map

Isoquants
 The isoquants emphasize how different
input combinations can be used to
produce the same output.
 This information allows the producer to
respond efficiently to changes in the
markets for inputs.
Input FlexibilityInput Flexibility

Isoquants
 Short-run:
Period of time in which quantities of one or
more production factors cannot be
changed.
These inputs are called fixed inputs.
The Short Run versus the Long RunThe Short Run versus the Long Run

Isoquants
 Long-run
Amount of time needed to make all
production inputs variable.
The Short Run versus the Long RunThe Short Run versus the Long Run

Amount Amount Total Average Marginal
of Labor (L) of Capital (K) Output (Q) Product Product
Production with
One Variable Input (Labor)
0 10 0 --- ---
1 10 10 10 10
2 10 30 15 20
3 10 60 20 30
4 10 80 20 20
5 10 95 19 15
6 10 108 18 13
7 10 112 16 4
8 10 112 14 0
9 10 108 12 -4
10 10 100 10 -8

 Observations:
1) With additional workers, output (Q)
increases, reaches a maximum, and
then decreases.
Production with

 Observations:
2) The average product of labor (AP),
or output per worker, increases and
then decreases.
L
Q
InputLabor
Output
AP ==
Production with

 Observations:
3) The marginal product of labor (MP),
or output of the additional worker,
increases rapidly initially and then
decreases and becomes negative..
L
Q
InputLabor
Output
MPL
∆
∆
=
∆
∆
=
Production with

Total Product
A: slope of tangent = MP (20)
B: slope of OB = AP (20)
C: slope of OC= MP & AP
Labor per Month
Output
per
Month
60
112
0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101
A
B
C
D
Production with

Average Product
Production with
8
10
20
Outpu
t
per
Month
0 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 101 Labor per Month
30
E
Marginal Product
Observations:
Left of E: MP > AP & AP is increasing
Right of E: MP < AP & AP is decreasing
E: MP = AP & AP is at its maximum

 Observations:
When MP = 0, TP is at its maximum
When MP > AP, AP is increasing
When MP < AP, AP is decreasing
When MP = AP, AP is at its maximum
Production with

Production with
Labor
per Month
Output
per
Month
60
112
0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101
A
B
C
D
8
10
20
E
0 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 101
30
Output
per
Month
Labor
per Month
AP = slope of line from origin to a point on TP, lines b, & c.
MP = slope of a tangent to any point on the TP line, lines a & c.

 As the use of an input increases in
equal increments, a point will be
reached at which the resulting additions
to output decreases (i.e. MP declines).
Production with
The Law of Diminishing Marginal ReturnsThe Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns

 When the labor input is small, MP
increases due to specialization.
 When the labor input is large, MP
decreases due to inefficiencies.
Production with

 Can be used for long-run decisions to
evaluate the trade-offs of different plant
configurations
 Assumes the quality of the variable
input is constant
Production with

 Explains a declining MP, not
necessarily a negative one
 Assumes a constant technology
Production with

The Effect of
Technological Improvement
Labor per
time period
Output
per
time
period
50
100
0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101
A
O1
C
O3
O2
B
Labor productivity
can increase if there
are improvements in
technology, even though
any given production
process exhibits
diminishing returns to
labor.

 Malthus predicted mass hunger and
starvation as diminishing returns limited
agricultural output and the population
continued to grow.
 Why did Malthus’ prediction fail?
Malthus and the Food Crisis

Index of World Food
Consumption Per Capita
1948-1952 100
1960 115
1970 123
1980 128
1990 137
1995 135
1998 140
Year Index

 The data show that production
increases have exceeded population
growth.
 Malthus did not take into consideration
the potential impact of technology which
has allowed the supply of food to grow
faster than demand.

 Technology has created surpluses and
driven the price down.
 Question
If food surpluses exist, why is there
hunger?

 Answer
The cost of distributing food from
productive regions to unproductive regions
and the low income levels of the non-
productive regions.

 Labor Productivity
InputLaborTotal
OutputTotal
tyProductiviAverage =
Production with

 Labor Productivity and the Standard of
Living
Consumption can increase only if
productivity increases.
Determinants of Productivity
 Stock of capital
 Technological change
Production with

Labor Productivity in
Developed Countries
1960-1973 4.75 4.04 8.30 2.89 2.36
1974-1986 2.10 1.85 2.50 1.69 0.71
1987-1997 1.48 2.00 1.94 1.02 1.09
United United
France Germany Japan Kingdom States
Annual Rate of Growth of Labor Productivity (%)
$54,507 $55,644 $46,048 $42,630 $60,915
Output per Employed Person (1997)

 Trends in Productivity
1) U.S. productivity is growing at a
slower rate than other countries.
2) Productivity growth in developed
countries has been decreasing.
Production with

 Explanations for Productivity Growth
Slowdown
1) Growth in the stock of capital is the
primary determinant of the growth in
productivity.
Production with

Slowdown
2) Rate of capital accumulation in the
U.S. was slower than other
developed countries because the
others were rebuilding after WWII.
Production with

Slowdown
3) Depletion of natural resources
4) Environment regulations
Production with

 Observation
U.S. productivity has increased in recent
years
 What Do You Think?
Is it a short-term aberration or a new long-
run trend?
Production with

Production with
Two Variable Inputs
 There is a relationship between
production and productivity.
 Long-run production K& L are variable.
 Isoquants analyze and compare the
different combinations of K & L and
output

The Shape of Isoquants
Labor per year
1
2
3
4
1 2 3 4 5
5
In the long run both
labor and capital are
variable and both
experience diminishing
returns.
Q1 = 55
Q2 = 75
Q3 = 90
Capital
per year
A
D
B C
E

 Reading the Isoquant Model
1) Assume capital is 3 and labor
increases from 0 to 1 to 2 to 3.
 Notice output increases at a decreasing
rate (55, 20, 15) illustrating diminishing
returns from labor in the short-run and
long-run.
Production with
Two Variable Inputs
Diminishing Marginal Rate of SubstitutionDiminishing Marginal Rate of Substitution

 Reading the Isoquant Model
2) Assume labor is 3 and capital
increases from 0 to 1 to 2 to 3.
 Output also increases at a decreasing
rate (55, 20, 15) due to diminishing
returns from capital.
Diminishing Marginal Rate of SubstitutionDiminishing Marginal Rate of Substitution
Production with
Two Variable Inputs

 Substituting Among Inputs
Managers want to determine what
combination if inputs to use.
They must deal with the trade-off between
inputs.
Production with
Two Variable Inputs

The slope of each isoquant gives the trade-
off between two inputs while keeping
output constant.
Production with
Two Variable Inputs

The marginal rate of technical substitution
equals:
inputlaborinangecapital/ChinChange-MRTS =
)oflevelfixeda(for Q
L
KMRTS
∆
∆−=
Production with
Two Variable Inputs

Marginal Rate of
Technical Substitution
Labor per month
1
2
3
4
1 2 3 4 5
5Capital
per year
Isoquants are downward
sloping and convex
like indifference
curves.
1
1
1
1
2
1
2/3
1/3
Q1 =55
Q2 =75
Q3 =90

 Observations:
1) Increasing labor in one unit
increments from 1 to 5 results in a
decreasing MRTS from 1 to 1/2.
2) Diminishing MRTS occurs because
of diminishing returns and implies
isoquants are convex.
Production with
Two Variable Inputs

 Observations:
3) MRTS and Marginal Productivity
 The change in output from a change in
labor equals:
L))((MPL ∆
Production with
Two Variable Inputs

 Observations:
 The change in output from a change in
capital equals:
Production with
Two Variable Inputs
K))((MPK ∆

 Observations:
 If output is constant and labor is
increased, then:
0K))((MPL))((MP KL =∆+∆
MRTSL)K/(-))(MP(MP KL =∆∆=
Production with
Two Variable Inputs

Isoquants When Inputs are
Perfectly Substitutable
Labor
per month
Capital
per
month
Q1 Q2 Q3
A
B
C

 Observations when inputs are perfectly
substitutable:
1) The MRTS is constant at all points on
the isoquant.
Production with
Two Variable Inputs
Perfect SubstitutesPerfect Substitutes

 Observations when inputs are perfectly
substitutable:
2) For a given output, any combination
of inputs can be chosen (A, B, or C) to
generate the same level of output
(e.g. toll booths & musical
instruments)
Production with
Two Variable Inputs
Perfect SubstitutesPerfect Substitutes

Fixed-Proportions
Production Function
Labor
per month
Capital
per
month
L1
K1
Q1
Q2
Q3
A
B
C

 Observations when inputs must be in a
fixed-proportion:
1) No substitution is possible.Each
output requires a specific amount of
each input (e.g. labor and
jackhammers).
Fixed-Proportions Production FunctionFixed-Proportions Production Function
Production with
Two Variable Inputs

 Observations when inputs must be in a
fixed-proportion:
2) To increase output requires more
labor and capital (i.e. moving from
A to B to C which is technically
efficient).
Fixed-Proportions Production FunctionFixed-Proportions Production Function
Production with
Two Variable Inputs

A Production Function for Wheat
 Farmers must choose between a capital
intensive or labor intensive technique of
production.

Isoquant Describing the
Production of Wheat
Labor
(hours per year)
Capital
(machine
hour per
year)
250 500 760 1000
40
80
120
100
90
Output = 13,800 bushels
per year
A
B
10-K =∆
260L =∆
Point A is more
capital-intensive, and
B is more labor-intensive.

 Observations:
1) Operating at A:
 L = 500 hours and K = 100
machine hours.
Production of Wheat

 Observations:
2) Operating at B
 Increase L to 760 and decrease K to 90
the MRTS < 1:
04.0)260/10( =−=
∆
∆=
L
K-MRTS
Production of Wheat

 Observations:
3) MRTS < 1, therefore the cost of labor
must be less than capital in order for
the farmer substitute labor for capital.
4) If labor is expensive, the farmer would
use more capital (e.g. U.S.).
Production of Wheat

 Observations:
5) If labor is inexpensive, the farmer
would use more labor (e.g. India).
Production of Wheat

Returns to Scale
 Measuring the relationship between the
scale (size) of a firm and output
1) Increasing returns to scale: output
more than doubles when all inputs
are doubled
 Larger output associated with lower cost (autos)
 One firm is more efficient than many (utilities)
 The isoquants get closer together

Returns to Scale
Labor (hours)
Capital
(machine
hours)
10
20
30
Increasing Returns:
The isoquants move closer together
5 10
2
4
0
A

Returns to Scale
2) Constant returns to scale: output
doubles when all inputs are doubled
 Size does not affect productivity
 May have a large number of producers
 Isoquants are equidistant apart

Returns to Scale
Labor (hours)
Capital
(machine
hours)
Constant Returns:
Isoquants are
equally
spaced
10
20
30
155 10
2
4
0
A
6

Returns to Scale
3) Decreasing returns to scale: output
less than doubles when all inputs
are doubled
 Decreasing efficiency with large size
 Reduction of entrepreneurial abilities
 Isoquants become farther apart

Returns to Scale
Labor (hours)
Capital
(machine
hours)
Decreasing Returns:
Isoquants get further
apart
10
20
30
5 10
2
4
0
A

Returns to Scale
in the Carpet Industry
 The carpet industry has grown from a
small industry to a large industry with
some very large firms.

Returns to Scale
 Question
Can the growth be explained by the
presence of economies to scale?

Carpet Shipments, 1996
(Millions of Dollars per Year)
The U.S. Carpet Industry
1. Shaw Industries $3,202 6. World Carpets $475
2. Mohawk Industries 1,795 7. Burlington Industries 450
3. Beaulieu of America 1,006 8. Collins & Aikman 418
4. Interface Flooring 820 9. Masland Industries 380
5. Queen Carpet 775 10. Dixied Yarns 280

Returns to Scale
 Are there economies of scale?
Costs (percent of cost)
 Capital -- 77%
 Labor -- 23%

Returns to Scale
 Large Manufacturers
Increased in machinery & labor
Doubling inputs has more than doubled
output
Economies of scale exist for large
producers

Returns to Scale
 Small Manufacturers
Small increases in scale have little or no
impact on output
Proportional increases in inputs increase
output proportionally
Constant returns to scale for small
producers

Summary
 A production function describes the
maximum output a firm can produce for
each specified combination of inputs.
 An isoquant is a curve that shows all
combinations of inputs that yield a given
level of output.

Summary
 Average product of labor measures the
productivity of the average worker,
whereas marginal product of labor
measures the productivity of the last
worker added.

Summary
 The law of diminishing returns explains
that the marginal product of an input
eventually diminishes as its quantity is
increased.

Summary
 Isoquants always slope downward
because the marginal product of all
inputs is positive.
 The standard of living that a country can
attain for its citizens is closely related to
its level of productivity.

Summary
 In long-run analysis, we tend to focus
on the firm’s choice of its scale or size
of operation.

Chapter 6 production

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