1. label and explain three alternative and equal areas on maximum profit
2. explain why the ATC curve as depicted in this diagram reflects no element of fixed cost and therefore can be regarded as a long run curve
Will have to think about question 1...
Question 2, though; MC is how much producing one more unit costs you. Ie it's the cost of materials. Therefore, when you produce 0 units, your cost is 0. When you produce 1, it jumps up to point C, if point C is the point where MC meets the Y axis.
Average Total Cost USUALLY includes fixed costs. In that usual situation, as you produce more, the cost of the fixed costs is spread across your total output, reducing the average cost per-unit (ATC). This is the idea of economies of scale.
From there, ATC in THIS SITUATION doesn't include fixed costs
because it starts at the same point as MC. If it reflected fixed costs (take a look in your textbook), it should start ABOVE MC, by a little bit, and at some point intersect MC. (ie
this picture).
The way I see it, that's the only reason, and only place you can decide that ATC doesn't reflect fixed costs; in that it starts at the same place as MC, on the Y axis.
....hope that makes sense.. that's what I'd put down at the moment, anyway. I've got tomorrow off, I'll think about it more, then.
Feel free to add me to MSN;
skittled@optushome.com.au, but it's not working at the moment.. will see if that can be sorted asap....
...is there a quesiton about production and rationality? ie how much should firm A, B and C produce?