1 - the theory of production Flashcards
fixed costs plus variable costs
total costs
costs of production that do not vary with output
fixed costs
costs of production that vary with output
variable costs
period during which at least one factor is fixed and the scale of production remains fixed
short run
period of time during which all factors become variable and the scale of output can change
long run
the output added by the extra worker or a unit of a factor
marginal product
where the addition of an extra variable factor adds more output than the previous variable factor.
Increasing marginal returns
the total product divided by the number of workers
Average product
where increasing amounts of a variable factor are added to a fixed factor and the amount added to total product by each additional unit of the variable factor eventually decreases.
law of diminishing marginal returns
the ideal combination of fixed and variable factors to produce the lowest average cost
optimal output
when a firm operates at minimum average total cost, producing the maximum possible output from inputs into the production process.
productive efficiency
in relation to fixed assets, a fall in the value of an asset during it’s working life
depreciation
costs which have both a fixed and variable element.
semi-variable costs
total fixed costs divided by the number produced
average fixed cost
total variable costs divided by the number produced.
average variable cost
total cost divided by the number produced
average total cost
the cost of the extra unit of production.
marginal cost
where an increase in factor inputs leads to a more than proportionate increase in outputs
increasing returns to scale
where an increase in factor of production leads to a less than proportionate increase in factor outputs
decreasing returns to scale
where an increase in factor inputs leads to a proportional increase in factor outputs.
constant returns to scale
this corresponds to the lowest point on the long run average total cost curve.
minimum efficient scale
