In: Advanced Math
Ike’s Bikes is a major manufacturer of bicycles. Currently, the company produces bikes using only one factory. However, it is considering expanding production to two or even three factories. The following table shows the company’s short-run average total cost (SRATC) each month for various levels of production if it uses one, two, or three factories. (Note: Q equals the total quantity of bikes produced by all factories.)
Average total cost (dollars per bike)
# of factories |
Q=25 |
Q=50 |
Q=75 |
Q=100 |
Q=125 |
Q=150 |
1 |
130 |
100 |
80 |
100 |
140 |
200 |
2 |
165 |
120 |
80 |
80 |
120 |
165 |
3 |
200 |
140 |
100 |
80 |
100 |
130 |
Suppose Ike’s Bikes is currently producing 25 bikes per month in its only factory. Its short-run average total cost is
per bike.
Suppose Ike’s Bikes is expecting to produce 25 bikes per month for several years. In this case, in the long run, it would choose to produce bikes using .
On the following graph, plot the three SRATC curves for Ike’s Bikes from the previous table. Specifically, use the green points (triangle symbol) to plot its SRATC curve if it operates one factory (SRATC1SRATC1); use the purple points (diamond symbol) to plot its SRATC curve if it operates two factories (SRATC2SRATC2); and use the orange points (square symbol) to plot its SRATC curve if it operates three factories (SRATC3SRATC3). Finally, plot the long-run average total cost (LRATC) curve for Ike’s Bikes using the blue points (circle symbol).
Note: Plot your points in the order in which you would like them connected. Line segments will connect the points automatically.
Plot SRATC1 SRATC2 SRATC3 SRATC
200
180
160
140
120
100
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175\
In the following table, indicate whether the long-run average cost curve exhibits economies of scale, constant returns to scale, or diseconomies of scale for each range of bike production.
Range |
Economies of Scale |
Constant Returns to Scale |
Diseconomies of Scale |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
More than 100 bikes per month | ||||
Fewer than 75 bikes per month | ||||
Between 75 and 100 bikes per month |
Given,
Suppose Ike’s Bikes is currently producing 25 bikes per month in its only factory.
Suppose Ike’s Bikes is expecting to produce 25 bikes per month for several years. In this case, in the long run, it would choose to produce bikes using three factories as the long run cost is lowest there.
No. Of Factories |
25 |
50 |
75 |
100 |
125 |
150 |
SRATC 1 |
130 |
100 |
80 |
100 |
140 |
200 |
SRATC 2 |
165 |
120 |
80 |
80 |
120 |
165 |
SRATC 3 |
200 |
140 |
100 |
80 |
100 |
130 |
Plot the graph as follows:
Connect all the lowest points, this would represent the LRATC curve of the firm
Range |
Economies of Scale |
Constant Returns to Scale |
Diseconomies of Scale |
|
More than 100 bikes per month |
Yes |
|||
Fewer than 75 bikes per month |
Yes |
|||
Between 75 and 100 bikes per month |
Yes |