Question

A firm in a perfectly competitive market has a fixed cost of $1,000 and a variable cost of $500 while it is earning the revenue of $510. In such a situation, the firm ________ shut down in the short run because _______________________________.

Answer 1

Firm should not shut down, as it is able to cover its Average Variable Cost

Step-by-step explanation:

Perfect Competition firms in Short Run : The firms produce even if their average revenue (price) < their average total costs (AC). They continue production until Average variable cost (AVC) ≥ per unit price (P) i.e average revenue (AR). This is called Shut Down Point. P lower beyond AVC implies that firm won't continue even in short run.

Given : Variable Cost (VC) = 500 ; Revenue (R) = 510

Average Variable Costs & Average Revenue are variable costs & revenue, per unit quantity. AVC = VC / Q ; AR (P) = R / Q

R i.e 510 > VC i.e 500

So, R/ Q i.e AR is also > VC / Q i.e AVC

Since AVC > AR (P), firm should not shut down