Question

Suppose the city of Austin, TX chooses to regulate the number of street vendors operating near the University of Texas by requiring each vendor to own a permit in order to operate. The city gives free permits to all existing vendors and announces that no new permits will ever be issued. Prior to regulation, the costs (including implicit costs) of operating were $85,000 and revenues were $150,000. The city ordinance allows the permits to be bought and sold without restriction. The permits have no expiration date. The interest rate is 10 percent. After regulation, existing street vendors earn an

A. accounting profit of zero.
B. economic profit of $130,000.
C. economic rent of $65,000
D. economic loss.

Answer 1

economic rent of $65,000

Step-by-step explanation:

Economic rent is the amount of money paid in excess to a factor of production in excess of what is socially optimum

Economic rent = $150,000 - $85,000 = $65,000

Accounting profit= total revenue - explicit cost

Total revenue =price x quantity sold

Explicit cost includes the amount expended in running the business. They include rent , salary and cost of raw materials

Economic profit = accounting profit - implicit cost

Implicit cost is the cost of the next best option forgone when one alternative is chosen over other alternatives

Without the regulation, economic profit would be driven to zero.