Market structures and competitive behaviour in leisure markets Flashcards
Short run
at least one factor of production is fixed, usually capital
Long run
All factors of production are variable
Fixed costs
Costs that don’t change in the short run with changes in output e.g. rent
Variable costs
Costs that change with changes in output e.g. raw materials
Labour costs - fixed/variable??
Wage rate = fixed Overtime and bonus payments = variable with output
Total cost (TC)
Total cost of producing a given output - made up of fixed and variable costs in the short run
Average cost (AC)
Unit cost total cost divided by output
Average fixed cost (AFC)
Total fixed cost divided by output Reduces with output increasing
Average variable cost (AVC)
Total variable cost divided by output Falls at first and then rises - due to the problem of a fixed factor of production, combination of resources becomes less efficient
Marginal cost (MC)
Change in cost resulting from changing output by one unit Key cost - firms are constantly considering whether to reduce or increase output Influences average cost - falls in MC reduce AC, vice versa
Long run costs
Total costs rise with output 3 possible LRAC curves
U shaped cost curve reasons
Economies of scale and then diseconomies of scale
Downwards sloping CC reasons
Economies of scale over a high range of output
L shaped cost curve reasons
Firm reaches minimum efficient scale of production then experiences constant returns to scale
Economies of scale
Reduction in long run average costs resulting from an increase in the scale of production
Diseconomies of scale
an increase in long run average costs resulting from an increase in the scale of production
Minimum efficient scale
the lowest level of output at which full advantage can be taken of economies of scale
Constant returns to scale
Long run average cost remaining unchanged when the scale of production increases
Internal economies of scale
economies of scale that occur within the firm as a result of its growth
Purchasing economies of scale
When firms buy in bulk they often pay less per unit purchased
Selling economies
A larger firm can make fuller use of sales and distribution facilities than a small one e.g. doesn’t cost twice as much to use an HGV twice the size of a lorry
Technical economies of scale
Large firms can afford to use high tech equipment and use it efficiently
Managerial economies of scale
As a firm grows in size it’s viable to employ specialists e.g. accountants
Financial economies of scale
Large firms usually find it easier and cheaper to raise finance than small firms - banks trust them more
Risk-bearing economies
Firm can produce a greater range of products - diversifying product range reduces the chance of experiencing a loss, should one of the products prove to be unpopular
External economies of scale
Savings in costs available to firms arising from the growth of the industry on the whole e.g. rise in tourism has led to universities running courses on travel and tourism Firms may be able to specialise in particular areas of the market Infrastructure, good reputation
Internal diseconomies of scale
Diseconomies of scale experienced by a firm caused by its growth e.g. difficult to run a large firm, keeping a check on everything that’s happening and coordinating production More people between whom there can be disputes
External diseconomies of scale
Diseconomies of scale resulting from the growth of the industry e.g. competition for resources, traffic congestion, pollution
Total revenue (TR)
The total payment a firm recieves May not move in the same direction as sales e.g. if a cinema raises ticket prices for a particular film, demand might be inelastic - same sales, more revenue
Marginal revenue (MR)
the change in total revenue resulting from the sale of one more unit
Average revenue (AR)
Total revenue divided by the output sold
Price taker
A firm that has no influence on the price of the good it sells
Perfect competition
A market structure (hypothetical) with many buyers and sellers, free entry and exit and an identical product
Price maker
A firm that influences price when it changes its output