Question

Which of the following statements is definitely true when price is less than average total cost for a firm producing the profit-maximizing level of output in the short run?

a. The firm will be earning negative total revenue.
b. The firm is running a loss in an accounting sense, so that total revenue is less than total explicit costs.
c. The firm is incurring an economic loss.
d. The firm will minimize its losses by shutting down.

Answer 1

d. The firm will minimize its losses by shutting down.

Step-by-step explanation:

The price multiplied the number of output is the revenue, which is less than the total cost as in this scenario. So this company is always lost.

Lost = number units x (cost – price)

The lost is as high as the number of unit produced.

Given the company do not have any room to improve the profit as it’s producing the profit-maximizing level of output; it’s the best for this firm to shut down.