In: Economics
Do each of the following production functions exhibit decreasing,
constant or increasing returns to scale? Prove your answers.
• Q = .5L.34 + K.34
• Q = [min (K, 2L)]2
• Q = (0.3L.5 + 0.7K.5)2
• Q = 4KLM where K, L, M are inputs
1. The production function exhibits decreasing returns to scale.
The reason being that increasing the inputs by a>1 times, we have or or or , ie the output increases less than a times.
2. The production function exhibits increasing returns to scale.
The reason being that increasing the inputs by a>1 times, we have or or or , ie the output increases more than a times.
3. The production function exhibits constant returns to scale.
The reason being that increasing the inputs by a>1 times, we have or or or or or , ie the output increases by the same factor (a times).
4. The production function exhibits increasing returns to scale.
The reason being that increasing the inputs by a>1 times, we have or or , ie the output increases more than a times.