Explain the short run equilibrium position of a firm under perfect competition using the sixth edition citations?
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Sep 28
In the short run, a firm under perfect competition will operate at an equilibrium position where marginal cost equals marginal revenue, and where price equals average total cost. This means that the firm is producing the quantity of output where it is maximizing its profits.
According to the sixth edition of "Microeconomics" by Robert Pindyck and Daniel Rubinfeld, in perfect competition, firms are price takers and must accept the market price for their output. This means that the firm's marginal revenue curve is equal to the market price. The firm will produce the quantity of output where marginal cost equals marginal revenue, as this is the point where it is maximizing its profits.
At this equilibrium position, the firm's price will also equal its average total cost. This is because in the short run, the firm may be earning economic profits, normal profits, or losses, but it will continue to produce as long as price is greater than average variable cost.
Overall, in the short run equilibrium position of a firm under perfect competition, the firm is producing the quantity of output where it is maximizing its profits, with marginal cost equal to marginal revenue and price equal to average total cost.
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Google Gemini AI
Sep 28
Short-Run Equilibrium Position
In short-run perfect competition, firms produce at the output level where marginal revenue (MR) equals marginal cost (MC).
Marginal Revenue Curve
- In perfect competition, firms are price takers, meaning they cannot influence the market price. - The demand curve facing an individual firm is perfectly elastic, indicating that it can sell as much output as it wants at the prevailing market price (P). - Therefore, the marginal revenue curve for an individual firm is equal to the market price: MR = P.
Marginal Cost Curve
- The marginal cost curve shows the change in total cost resulting from producing one additional unit of output. - In the short run, some inputs (e.g., capital and land) are fixed, while others (e.g., labor) are variable. - As output increases, diminishing returns to variable inputs eventually cause marginal cost to rise.
Profit Maximization
- Firms maximize profits by producing at the output level where MR = MC. - At this level: - Revenue equals cost: Total revenue (P x Q) = Total cost (TC). - No profit or loss is made: Economic profit = Total revenue - Total cost = 0.
Graphical Representation
[Image of a graph with MR, MC, and P curves, intersecting at the short-run equilibrium point]
Note:
- In the short-run equilibrium, firms may be making normal profits (zero economic profit), losses, or positive economic profits. - Positive economic profits attract new firms into the market, while losses lead to firm exits, restoring long-run equilibrium with zero economic profits.
Citation:
- Pindyck, R. S., & Rubinfeld, D. L. (2018). Microeconomics (6th ed.). Pearson Education.