Question

A profit-maximizing firm manufactures widgets (output is denoted by q) using machines (K) and full-time employees...

A profit-maximizing firm manufactures widgets (output is denoted by q) using machines (K) and full-time employees (E). In any given week, its output is given by the production functionq = f(E,K) = 1200K + 700E + 2EK – E2 -2K2

The marginal product of labor (MPE) is: 700 + 2K – 2E

Consider the long-run factor demand problem.

a. Suppose that the price of labor is again $400 per week. What is the firm’s long-run demand for labor? What is the firm’s long-run demand for capital? Compute the firm’s level of output and profits per week in this long-run equilibrium.

b. What will the firm’s long-run labor demand be when the weekly wage decreases to $380 per full-time worker? Compute the firm’s demand for capital, level of output and profits in this new long-run equilibrium.

c. What is the firm’s long-run elasticity of labor demand as the wage falls from $400 to $380? Is this an elastic or inelastic response?

Homework Answers

Know the answer?
Your Answer:

Post as a guest

Your Name:

What's your source?

Earn Coins

Coins can be redeemed for fabulous gifts.

Not the answer you're looking for?
Ask your own homework help question
Similar Questions
Suppose a firm’s long-run production function is given by Q=K^0.25 L^0.25 ,where K is measured in...
Suppose a firm’s long-run production function is given by Q=K^0.25 L^0.25 ,where K is measured in machine-hours per year and L is measured in hours of labor per year. The cost of capital (rental rate denoted by r) is $1200 per machine-hour and the cost of labor (wage rate denoted by w) is $12 per hour. Hint: if you don’t calculate the exponential terms (or keep all the decimals when you do), you will end up with nice numbers on...
A firm produces output (y), using capital (K) and labor (L). The per-unit price of capital...
A firm produces output (y), using capital (K) and labor (L). The per-unit price of capital is r, and the per-unit price of labor is w. The firm’s production function is given by, y=Af(L,K), where A > 0 is a parameter reflecting the firm’s efficiency. (a) Let p denote the price of output. In the short run, the level of capital is fixed at K. Assume that the marginal product of labor is diminishing. Using comparative statics analysis, show that...
A firm’s production function is Q(L,K) = K^1/2 + L. The firm faces a price of...
A firm’s production function is Q(L,K) = K^1/2 + L. The firm faces a price of labor, w, and a price of capital services, r. a. Derive the long-run input demand functions for L and K, assuming an interior solution. If the firm must produce 100 units of output, what must be true of the relative price of labor in terms of capital (i.e. w/r) in order for the firm to use a positive amount of labor? Graphically depict this...
A firm uses two inputs, capital K and labor L, to produce output Q that can...
A firm uses two inputs, capital K and labor L, to produce output Q that can be sold at a price of $10. The production function is given by Q = F(K, L) = K1/2L1/2 In the short run, capital is fixed at 4 units and the wage rate is $5, 1. What type of production function is F(K, L) = K1/2L1/2 ? 2. Determine the marginal product of labor MPL as a function of labor L. 3. Determine the...
The production function for a firm is Q = −0.6L 3 + 18L 2K + 10L...
The production function for a firm is Q = −0.6L 3 + 18L 2K + 10L where Q is the amount of output, L is the number of labor hours per week, and K is the amount of capital. (a)Use Excel to calculate the total short run output Q(L) for L = 0, 1, 2...20, given that capital is fixed in the short run at K = 1. (b) Use Excel to calculate the total long run output Q(L) for...
4.1 Consider a profit-maximizing firm with the production function, q(L,K). Capital is fixed at K0. Explain...
4.1 Consider a profit-maximizing firm with the production function, q(L,K). Capital is fixed at K0. Explain what happens to demand for L and to profits, p, under the following scenarios: (a) w, the price of L rises (b) v, the price of K rises (c) p, the price of the output rises
A competitive firm has a production function described as follows. “Weekly output is the square root...
A competitive firm has a production function described as follows. “Weekly output is the square root of the minimum of the number of units of capital and the number of units of labor employed per week.” Suppose that in the short run this firm must use 16 units of capital but can vary its amount of labor freely. a. Write down a formula that describes the marginal product of labor in the short run as a function of the amount...
In a country, there exists 10,000 firms that are producing cars. Their production function is: f(K,L)=K...
In a country, there exists 10,000 firms that are producing cars. Their production function is: f(K,L)=K 1/3 L 2/3 and all of them have input prices for labor equaling $1 and for capital equaling $256. a) Find the long run marginal cost and average costs for each of these firms. b) Find the long run supply for the whole industry. c) Assume that these cars are only consumed in the country with demand function x(p)=36000/p. Using the market supply you...
Consider a firm that used only two inputs, capital (K) and labor (L), to produce output....
Consider a firm that used only two inputs, capital (K) and labor (L), to produce output. The production function is given by: Q = 60L^(2/3)K^(1/3) . a.Find the returns to scale of this production function. b. Derive the Marginal Rate of Technical Substitutions (MRTS) between capital and labor. Does the law of diminishing MRTS hold? Why? Derive the equation for a sample isoquant (Q=120) and draw the isoquant. Be sure to label as many points as you can. c. Compute...
5. A competitive firm has a production function described as follows. “Weekly output is the square...
5. A competitive firm has a production function described as follows. “Weekly output is the square root of the minimum of the number of units of capital and the number of units of labor employed per week.” Suppose that in the short run this firm must use 16 units of capital but can vary its amount of labor freely. a) Write down a formula that describes the marginal product of labor in the short run as a function of the...