1. Copyright © 2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill/Irwin Managerial Economics, 9e Managerial Economics Thomas Maurice ninth edition Copyright © 2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill/Irwin Managerial Economics, 9e Managerial Economics Thomas Maurice ninth edition Chapter 10 Production & Cost Estimation

2. Managerial Economics 10-2 Empirical Production Function Cubic empirical specification for a short-run production function is derived from a long-run cubic production function Cubic form of the long-run production function is expressed as

3. Managerial Economics 10-3 Properties of a Short-Run Cubic Production Function Holding capital constant, short-run cubic production function is derived as follows:

4. Managerial Economics 10-4 Properties of a Short-Run Cubic Production Function The average & marginal products of labor are, respectively:

5. Managerial Economics 10-5 Properties of a Short-Run Cubic Production Function Marginal product of labor begins to diminish beyond L m units of labor

6. Managerial Economics 10-6 MP & AP Curves for the Short-Run Cubic Production Function (Figure 10.1) Q = AL 3 + BL 2

7. Managerial Economics 10-7 Properties of a Short-Run Cubic Production Function To have necessary properties of a production function, parameters must satisfy the following restrictions:

8. Managerial Economics 10-8 Estimation of a Short-Run Production Function To use linear regression analysis, the cubic equation must be transformed into linear form Q = AX + BW Where X = L 3 and W = L 2 Estimated regression line must pass through the origin Specify in computer routine

9. Managerial Economics 10-9 Estimation of a Short-Run Cost Function Estimate using data for which the level of usage of one or more inputs is fixed Usually time series data are used Data collection may be complicated by the fact that accounting data do not include firm’s opportunity costs Capital costs should reflect not only acquisition cost but any foregone rental income, depreciation, & capital gains/losses Must eliminate effects of inflation Divide by appropriate price index

10. Managerial Economics 10-10 Properties of a Short-Run Cubic Cost Function Average variable cost & marginal cost functions are, respectively:

11. Managerial Economics 10-11 Properties of a Short-Run Cubic Cost Function Average variable cost reaches its minimum value at: To conform to theoretical properties, parameters must satisfy the following restrictions:

12. Managerial Economics 10-12 Properties of a Short-Run Cost Function Cubic specification produces S-shaped TVC curve & U-shaped AVC & SMC curves All three cost curves employ the same parameters Only necessary to estimate one of these functions to obtain estimates of all three In the short-run cubic specification, input prices are assumed constant Not explicitly included in cost equation

13. Managerial Economics 10-13 Summary of Short-Run Empirical Production Functions Short-run cubic production equations Total product Average product of labor Marginal product of labor Diminishing marginal returns Restrictions on parameters

14. Managerial Economics 10-14 Summary of Short-Run Empirical Cost Functions Short-run cubic cost equations Total variable cost Average variable cost Marginal cost Average variable cost reaches minimum at Restrictions on parameters