In: Economics
3. 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
To check the returns to scale, when we multiply each of the factors by t and check the resulting output. If the resulting output is t times the original output, then it is constant returns to scale. If the resulting output is more than t times the original output then it is increasing returns to scale while decreasing returns to scale when the resulting output is less than t times the original output.
1. Q=0.5L^.34+K^.34
Now multiplying K and L by t will give us: 0.5(tL)^.34+(tK)^.34 =t^(.34+.34) (0.5L^.34+K^.34) =t^.68(0.5L^.34+K^.34) which is less than tQ and hence it exhibits the decreasing returns to scale.
2. Q=[min(K,2L)]^2
Now multiplying K and L by t will give us: [min(tK,t2L)]^2 =t^2 [min(K,2L)]^2 which is more than tQ and hence it exhibits the increasing returns to scale.
3. Q=(0.3L^.5+0.7K^.5)^2
Now multiplying K and L by t will give us: (0.3(tL)^.5+0.7(tK)^.5)^2 = t^(.5+.5)*2 (0.3L^.5+0.7K^.5)^2 = t^2 (0.3L^.5+0.7K^.5)^2 which is more than tQ and hence it exhibits the increasing returns to scale.
4. Q=4KLM
Now multiplying K, L and M by t will give us: 4(tKtLtM) = t^3 4(KLM) which is more than tQ and hence it exhibits the increasing returns to scale.