In: Economics
You manage a plant that mass-produces engines by teams of workers using assembly machines. The technology is summarized by the production function q=5KL
where q is the number of engines per week, K is the number of assembly machines, and L is the number of labor teams. Each assembly machine rents for r=$40,000 per week, and each team costs w=$5,000 per week. Engine costs are given by the cost of labor teams and machines, plus $4,000 per engine for raw materials. Your plant has a fixed installation of 5 assembly machines as part of its design.
a. How many teams are required to produce 100 engines? To produce 100 engines, ____labor team(s) are required.
b. You are asked to make recommendations for the design of a new production facility. What capital/labor (K/L) ratio should the new plant accommodate if it wants to minimize the total cost of producing at any level of output q?