INTMIC9.jpg Chapter 20 Profit Maximization Economic Profit uA firm uses inputs j = 1…,m to make products i = 1,…n. uOutput levels are y1,…,yn. uInput levels are x1,…,xm. uProduct prices are p1,…,pn. uInput prices are w1,…,wm. The Competitive Firm uThe competitive firm takes all output prices p1,…,pn and all input prices w1,…,wm as given constants. Economic Profit uThe economic profit generated by the production plan (x1,…,xm,y1,…,yn) is Economic Profit uOutput and input levels are typically flows. uE.g. x1 might be the number of labor units used per hour. uAnd y3 might be the number of cars produced per hour. uConsequently, profit is typically a flow also; e.g. the number of dollars of profit earned per hour. Economic Profit uHow do we value a firm? uSuppose the firm’s stream of periodic economic profits is P0, P1, P2, … and r is the rate of interest. uThen the present-value of the firm’s economic profit stream is Economic Profit uA competitive firm seeks to maximize its present-value. uHow? Economic Profit uSuppose the firm is in a short-run circumstance in which uIts short-run production function is Economic Profit uSuppose the firm is in a short-run circumstance in which uIts short-run production function is uThe firm’s fixed cost is and its profit function is Short-Run Iso-Profit Lines uA $P iso-profit line contains all the production plans that provide a profit level $P . uA $P iso-profit line’s equation is Short-Run Iso-Profit Lines uA $P iso-profit line contains all the production plans that yield a profit level of $P . uThe equation of a $P iso-profit line is uI.e. Short-Run Iso-Profit Lines has a slope of and a vertical intercept of Short-Run Iso-Profit Lines y x1 Short-Run Profit-Maximization uThe firm’s problem is to locate the production plan that attains the highest possible iso-profit line, given the firm’s constraint on choices of production plans. uQ: What is this constraint? Short-Run Profit-Maximization uThe firm’s problem is to locate the production plan that attains the highest possible iso-profit line, given the firm’s constraint on choices of production plans. uQ: What is this constraint? uA: The production function. Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 Technically inefficient plans y The short-run production function and technology set for Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Given p, w1 and the short-run profit-maximizing plan is Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Given p, w1 and the short-run profit-maximizing plan is And the maximum possible profit is Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y At the short-run profit-maximizing plan, the slopes of the short-run production function and the maximal iso-profit line are equal. Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y At the short-run profit-maximizing plan, the slopes of the short-run production function and the maximal iso-profit line are equal. Short-Run Profit-Maximization is the marginal revenue product of input 1, the rate at which revenue increases with the amount used of input 1. If then profit increases with x1. If then profit decreases with x1. Short-Run Profit-Maximization; A Cobb-Douglas Example Suppose the short-run production function is The marginal product of the variable input 1 is The profit-maximizing condition is Short-Run Profit-Maximization; A Cobb-Douglas Example Solving for x1 gives Short-Run Profit-Maximization; A Cobb-Douglas Example Solving for x1 gives That is, Short-Run Profit-Maximization; A Cobb-Douglas Example Solving for x1 gives That is, so Short-Run Profit-Maximization; A Cobb-Douglas Example is the firm’s short-run demand for input 1 when the level of input 2 is fixed at units. Short-Run Profit-Maximization; A Cobb-Douglas Example is the firm’s short-run demand for input 1 when the level of input 2 is fixed at units. The firm’s short-run output level is thus Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization uWhat happens to the short-run profit-maximizing production plan as the output price p changes? Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization The equation of a short-run iso-profit line is so an increase in p causes -- a reduction in the slope, and -- a reduction in the vertical intercept. Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization uAn increase in p, the price of the firm’s output, causes –an increase in the firm’s output level (the firm’s supply curve slopes upward), and –an increase in the level of the firm’s variable input (the firm’s demand curve for its variable input shifts outward). Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization The Cobb-Douglas example: When then the firm’s short-run demand for its variable input 1 is and its short-run supply is Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization The Cobb-Douglas example: When then the firm’s short-run demand for its variable input 1 is increases as p increases. and its short-run supply is Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization The Cobb-Douglas example: When then the firm’s short-run demand for its variable input 1 is increases as p increases. and its short-run supply is increases as p increases. Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization uWhat happens to the short-run profit-maximizing production plan as the variable input price w1 changes? Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization The equation of a short-run iso-profit line is so an increase in w1 causes -- an increase in the slope, and -- no change to the vertical intercept. Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization uAn increase in w1, the price of the firm’s variable input, causes –a decrease in the firm’s output level (the firm’s supply curve shifts inward), and –a decrease in the level of the firm’s variable input (the firm’s demand curve for its variable input slopes downward). Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization The Cobb-Douglas example: When then the firm’s short-run demand for its variable input 1 is and its short-run supply is Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization The Cobb-Douglas example: When then the firm’s short-run demand for its variable input 1 is decreases as w1 increases. and its short-run supply is Comparative Statics of Short-Run Profit-Maximization The Cobb-Douglas example: When then the firm’s short-run demand for its variable input 1 is decreases as w1 increases. decreases as w1 increases. and its short-run supply is Long-Run Profit-Maximization uNow allow the firm to vary both input levels. uSince no input level is fixed, there are no fixed costs. Long-Run Profit-Maximization uBoth x1 and x2 are variable. uThink of the firm as choosing the production plan that maximizes profits for a given value of x2, and then varying x2 to find the largest possible profit level. Long-Run Profit-Maximization The equation of a long-run iso-profit line is so an increase in x2 causes -- no change to the slope, and -- an increase in the vertical intercept. Long-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Long-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Larger levels of input 2 increase the productivity of input 1. Long-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Larger levels of input 2 increase the productivity of input 1. The marginal product of input 2 is diminishing. Long-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y Larger levels of input 2 increase the productivity of input 1. The marginal product of input 2 is diminishing. Long-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y for each short-run production plan. Long-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y The marginal product of input 2 is diminishing so ... for each short-run production plan. Long-Run Profit-Maximization x1 y the marginal profit of input 2 is diminishing. for each short-run production plan. Long-Run Profit-Maximization uProfit will increase as x2 increases so long as the marginal profit of input 2 uThe profit-maximizing level of input 2 therefore satisfies Long-Run Profit-Maximization uProfit will increase as x2 increases so long as the marginal profit of input 2 uThe profit-maximizing level of input 2 therefore satisfies uAnd is satisfied in any short-run, so ... Long-Run Profit-Maximization uThe input levels of the long-run profit-maximizing plan satisfy uThat is, marginal revenue equals marginal cost for all inputs. and Long-Run Profit-Maximization The Cobb-Douglas example: When then the firm’s short-run demand for its variable input 1 is and its short-run supply is Short-run profit is therefore … Long-Run Profit-Maximization Long-Run Profit-Maximization Long-Run Profit-Maximization Long-Run Profit-Maximization Long-Run Profit-Maximization What is the long-run profit-maximizing level of input 2? Solve to get Long-Run Profit-Maximization What is the long-run profit-maximizing input 1 level? Substitute into to get Long-Run Profit-Maximization What is the long-run profit-maximizing input 1 level? Substitute into to get Long-Run Profit-Maximization What is the long-run profit-maximizing output level? Substitute into to get Long-Run Profit-Maximization What is the long-run profit-maximizing output level? Substitute into to get Long-Run Profit-Maximization So given the prices p, w1 and w2, and the production function the long-run profit-maximizing production plan is Returns-to-Scale and Profit-Maximization uIf a competitive firm’s technology exhibits decreasing returns-to-scale then the firm has a single long-run profit-maximizing production plan. Returns-to Scale and Profit-Maximization x y y* x* Decreasing returns-to-scale Returns-to-Scale and Profit-Maximization uIf a competitive firm’s technology exhibits exhibits increasing returns-to-scale then the firm does not have a profit-maximizing plan. Returns-to Scale and Profit-Maximization x y y” x’ Increasing returns-to-scale y’ x” Returns-to-Scale and Profit-Maximization uSo an increasing returns-to-scale technology is inconsistent with firms being perfectly competitive. Returns-to-Scale and Profit-Maximization uWhat if the competitive firm’s technology exhibits constant returns-to-scale? Returns-to Scale and Profit-Maximization x y y” x’ Constant returns-to-scale y’ x” Returns-to Scale and Profit-Maximization uSo if any production plan earns a positive profit, the firm can double up all inputs to produce twice the original output and earn twice the original profit. Returns-to Scale and Profit-Maximization uTherefore, when a firm’s technology exhibits constant returns-to-scale, earning a positive economic profit is inconsistent with firms being perfectly competitive. uHence constant returns-to-scale requires that competitive firms earn economic profits of zero. Returns-to Scale and Profit-Maximization x y y” x’ Constant returns-to-scale y’ x” P = 0 Revealed Profitability uConsider a competitive firm with a technology that exhibits decreasing returns-to-scale. uFor a variety of output and input prices we observe the firm’s choices of production plans. uWhat can we learn from our observations? Revealed Profitability uIf a production plan (x’,y’) is chosen at prices (w’,p’) we deduce that the plan (x’,y’) is revealed to be profit-maximizing for the prices (w’,p’). Revealed Profitability x y is chosen at prices Revealed Profitability x y is chosen at prices so is profit-maximizing at these prices. Revealed Profitability x y is chosen at prices so is profit-maximizing at these prices. would give higher profits, so why is it not chosen? Revealed Profitability x y is chosen at prices so is profit-maximizing at these prices. would give higher profits, so why is it not chosen? Because it is not a feasible plan. Revealed Profitability x y is chosen at prices so is profit-maximizing at these prices. would give higher profits, so why is it not chosen? Because it is not a feasible plan. So the firm’s technology set must lie under the iso-profit line. Revealed Profitability x y is chosen at prices so is profit-maximizing at these prices. So the firm’s technology set must lie under the iso-profit line. The technology set is somewhere in here Revealed Profitability x y is chosen at prices so maximizes profit at these prices. would provide higher profit but it is not chosen Revealed Profitability x y is chosen at prices so maximizes profit at these prices. would provide higher profit but it is not chosen because it is not feasible Revealed Profitability x y is chosen at prices so maximizes profit at these prices. would provide higher profit but it is not chosen because it is not feasible so the technology set lies under the iso-profit line. Revealed Profitability x y is chosen at prices so maximizes profit at these prices. The technology set is also somewhere in here. Revealed Profitability x y The firm’s technology set must lie under both iso-profit lines Revealed Profitability x y The firm’s technology set must lie under both iso-profit lines The technology set is somewhere in this intersection Revealed Profitability uObserving more choices of production plans by the firm in response to different prices for its input and its output gives more information on the location of its technology set. Revealed Profitability x y The firm’s technology set must lie under all the iso-profit lines Revealed Profitability x y The firm’s technology set must lie under all the iso-profit lines Revealed Profitability x y The firm’s technology set must lie under all the iso-profit lines Revealed Profitability uWhat else can be learned from the firm’s choices of profit-maximizing production plans? Revealed Profitability x y The firm’s technology set must lie under all the iso-profit lines is chosen at prices so is chosen at prices so Revealed Profitability and so and Adding gives Revealed Profitability so That is, is a necessary implication of profit- maximization. Revealed Profitability is a necessary implication of profit- maximization. Suppose the input price does not change. Then Dw = 0 and profit-maximization implies ; i.e., a competitive firm’s output supply curve cannot slope downward. Revealed Profitability is a necessary implication of profit- maximization. Suppose the output price does not change. Then Dp = 0 and profit-maximization implies ; i.e., a competitive firm’s input demand curve cannot slope upward.