Changes in Factor Prices. Remember our basic cost function C = C(q,r,w)

38
Changes in Factor Prices
  • date post

    22-Dec-2015
  • Category

    Documents

  • view

    213
  • download

    0

Transcript of Changes in Factor Prices. Remember our basic cost function C = C(q,r,w)

Changes in Factor Prices

Changes in Factor Prices

• Remember our basic cost function

C = C(q,r,w)

Changes in Factor Prices

• Remember our basic cost function

C = C(q,r,w)

• The Impact of a change in factor prices on the market

Changes in Factor Prices

• Remember our basic cost function

C = C(q,r,w)

• The Impact of a change in factor prices on the market

• How a shift in market demand can cause a change in factor prices

An Exogenous Change

• Suppose the price of a factor of production changes.

An Exogenous Change

• Suppose the price of a factor of production changes.

• While there is obviously some substitution, there will be an increase in cost.

An Exogenous Change

• Suppose the price of a factor of production changes.

• While there is obviously some substitution, there will be an increase in cost.

• This is called an exogenous (external) change.

An Exogenous Change

p*

q*

An Exogenous Change

p*

D

q*

An Exogenous Change

p*

D

q* Q* = Nq*

An Exogenous Change

p*

D

q* Q* = Nq*

p**

q**

An Exogenous Change

p*

D

q* Q*

p**

q** Q** = N’q**

An Exogenous Change

p*

D

q* Q* = Nq*

p**

q** Q** = N’q**

Price goes up. Quantity sold does down. Average size of firm and number of firms indeterminate.

An Endogenous Change

pmin SLR

SSR

D

Now let’s talk about how a change in demand can affect factor prices.

An Endogenous Change

pmin SLR

SSR

D

An Endogenous Change

pmin

p1

SLR

SSR

D D’

An Endogenous Change

pmin

p1

SLR

SSR

D D’

An Endogenous Change

pmin

p1

SLR

SSR

D D’

An Endogenous Change

pmin

p1

SLR

SSR

D D’

No change in factor prices means no long run change in product price.

An Endogenous Change

pmin

p1

SLR

SSR

D D’

No change in factor prices means no long run change in product price.

But it does not have to be this way.

The demand for lumber

• Lumber is a highly competitive business.

The demand for lumber

• Lumber is a highly competitive business.

• It has a key factor of production: timber.

• A change in the demand for lumber can have feedback effects on the price of timber.

The demand for lumber

• Lumber is a highly competitive business.

• It has a key factor of production: timber.

• A change in the demand for lumber can have feedback effects on the price of timber.

• This is the case of a pecuniary external diseconomy.

The Demand for Lumber and Timber

Lumber

D

The Demand for Lumber and Timber

Lumber Timber

D D

S

The Demand for Lumber and Timber

Lumber Timber

DD’

D’

D

S

The Demand for Lumber and Timber

Lumber Timber

DD’

D’

D

SIf lumber production is increasing due to a demand shift, then there is a shift in the demand for timber. Timber prices will be going up.

Effect of Price Changes

p*

q*

Q*

Effect of Price Changes

p*

q* q**

p**

Q*Q**

Effect of Price Changes

p*

q* q**

p**

Q*Q**

Q* Q**

S

Effect of Price Changes

p*

q* q**

p**

Q*Q**

Q* Q**

S

Because of external pecuniary diseconomies, we get an upward sloping supply curve for lumber

Long Run and Short Run Changes

D

SLR

p1

q1

Long Run and Short Run Changes

DD’

SLR

SSRp2

p1

q1 q2

Initial effect is movement along SR Supply Curve

Long Run and Short Run Changes

DD’

SLR

S’SRSSR

p3

p2

p1

q1 q2 q3

New firms enter, pushing SR supply curve to right.

Long Run and Short Run Changes

DD’

SLR

S’SRSSR

p3

p2

p1

q1 q2 q3

Then, a movement down new demand curve.

Long Run and Short Run Changes

DD’

SLR

S’SRSSR

p3

p2

p1

q1 q2 q3

Net effect is movement along LR supply curve.

Long Run and Short Run Changes

DD’

SLR

S’SRSSR

p3

p2

p1

q1 q2 q3

Price goes up, even though industry is perfectly competitive and all firms are alike.

End

©2003 Charles W. Upton