Question

Refer to the following scenario to answer the following questions.

Five fishermen live in a village and have no other employment or income-earning possibilities besides fishing. They each own a boat that is suitable for fishing but does not have any resale value. Fish are worth $5 per pound, and the marginal cost of operating the boat is $500 per month. They all fish a river next to the village. According to the following schedule, they have determined that when there are more of them out on the river fishing, they each catch fewer fish per month.
Boats Fish Caught per
Boat (pounds)
1 200
2 190
3 175
4 155
5 130
How many fishermen will choose to operate their boats?

Answer 1

5 fishermen will choose to operate their boats as each of them will earn a profit of $150

Step-by-step explanation:

Per boat operating cost = $500 per month.

Price of fish = $5 per pound.

There are 5 fishermen and each fishermen has 1 boat.

For 1 boat

Total revenue = Price * quantity = $5 * 200 = $1,000

Cost = $500

Profit = Total revenue - Cost = 1000 - 500

Profit = $500.

For 2 boats

Total Revenue of each boat = $5 * 190 = $950

Cost of each boat = $500

Profit of each boat = Total revenue - Cost = 950 - 500

Profit of each boat = $450.

For 3 boats

Total Revenue of each boat = 5 * 175 = $875

Cost of each boat = $500

Profit of each boat = TR - Cost = 875 - 500

Profit of each boat = $375

For 4 boats

Total Revenue of each boat = 5 * 155 = $775

Cost of each boat = $500

Profit of each boat = TR - Cost = 775 - 500

Profit of each boat = $275

For 5 boats

Total Revenue of each boat = 5 * 130 = $650

Cost of each boat = $500

Profit of each boat = TR - Cost = 650 - 500

Profit of each boat = $150.

Conclusion: As there are 5 fishermen and if all of them out on the river at the same time then each fisherman earns profit of $150. As all fishermen earns profit hence all of them will choose to operate their boats. Therefore, 5 fishermen will be ready to operate their boats.