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Managerial Economics Summary - TEW & Trading Engineer - 16/20 First Seat

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  • Course
  • Managerial Economics
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  • Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven)
  • Book
  • Industrial Organization

This summary includes all curriculum from the Managerial Economics lessons, taught to the second-year students of Trade Engineer and Applied Economics (TEW) by Mattia Nardotto and Christophe Crombez. I scored a 16/20 in my first seat with this summary. This summary is based on lessons notes, comple...

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  • August 22, 2021
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  • 2020/2021
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  • managerial economics
  • industrial organisation
  • managerial economics tew
  • christophe crombez
  • mattia nardotto
  • managerial economics samenvatting
  • industrial organisation samenvatting
  • managerial economics handelsingenieur

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  • Toegepaste Economische Wetenschappen
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MANAGERIAL‌‌ECONOMICS‌ ‌
Simon‌‌Kuhn‌‌ ‌
‌
LECTURE‌‌1:‌‌FOUNDATIONS‌ ‌
PART‌‌ONE‌ ‌
‌
WHAT‌‌IS‌‌INDUSTRIAL‌‌ORGANISATION?‌‌ ‌
Industrial‌‌Organisation‌‌i‌s‌‌a‌‌branch‌‌of‌‌economics‌‌that‌‌is‌‌concerned‌‌with‌‌the‌‌study‌‌of‌i‌mperfect‌‌
competition‌.‌‌We‌‌will‌‌look‌‌at‌‌ways‌‌for‌‌a‌‌company‌‌to‌‌escape‌‌perfect‌‌competition.‌ ‌
⇒ ‌‌through‌m ‌ arket‌‌power‌:‌ ‌
- innovation‌ ‌
- advertisement‌ ‌
- product‌‌differentiation‌ ‌
- price‌‌discrimination‌ ‌
In‌‌this‌‌course,‌‌we‌‌will‌‌use‌‌managerial‌‌economics‌‌to‌‌answer‌‌practical‌‌questions‌‌on‌‌these‌‌topics.‌ ‌
‌
HOW‌‌WE‌‌STUDY‌‌INDUSTRIAL‌‌ORGANISATION‌ ‌
We‌‌will‌‌make‌‌use‌‌of:‌ ‌
- fundamental‌‌economic‌‌principles‌‌(e.g.‌‌rational‌‌agents,‌‌optimality,...)‌ ‌
- game‌‌theory‌‌because‌‌of‌‌high‌i‌nterdependence‌b ‌ etween‌‌firms‌‌ ‌
- abstract‌‌modeling‌ ‌
‌
THE‌‌PROBLEM‌‌OF‌‌THE‌‌MANAGER‌ ‌
The‌‌Small‌‌Business‌‌Administration‌‌gives‌‌some‌‌basic‌‌guidelines‌‌on‌‌how‌‌to‌‌structure‌‌a‌‌business‌‌plan:‌ ‌
- executive‌‌summary‌‌‌→‌‌the‌‌unique‌‌selling‌‌point,‌‌what‌‌differentiates‌‌the‌‌business‌‌from‌‌others‌ ‌
- company‌‌description‌‌‌→‌‌which‌‌products‌‌and‌‌services,‌‌product‌‌differentiation,...‌ ‌
- market‌‌analysis‌‌‌→‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scale,‌‌market‌‌concentration,‌‌sunk‌‌costs,...‌ ‌
- service‌‌or‌‌product‌‌line‌→ ‌ ‌‌explain‌‌production‌‌processes,‌‌R&D,‌‌innovation,...‌ ‌
- marketing‌‌and‌‌sales‌→ ‌ ‌‌describe‌‌the‌‌marketing‌‌strategy,‌‌price‌‌discrimination,...‌ ‌
- financial‌‌plan‌‌and‌‌funding‌‌ ‌
‌
All‌‌of‌‌these‌‌elements‌‌have‌‌to‌‌do‌‌with‌‌concepts‌‌studied‌‌in‌‌Managerial‌‌Economics‌.‌ ‌
→‌‌we‌‌will‌‌look‌‌at‌‌the‌‌economics‌‌behind‌‌these‌‌concepts‌‌within‌‌(im)perfect‌‌competition‌‌ ‌
‌in‌‌order‌‌to‌‌use‌‌them‌‌for‌‌more‌‌practical‌‌applications‌‌(e.g.‌‌a‌‌business‌‌plan)‌ ‌
‌
MARKET‌‌DEMAND‌ ‌
In‌‌Managerial‌‌Economics,‌‌we‌‌will‌‌mainly‌‌focus‌‌on‌‌firm‌‌profit-maximizing‌‌behavior‌‌and‌‌a‌‌resultant‌‌market‌‌
outcome‌‌that‌‌such‌‌behavior‌‌implies.‌ ‌
‌
Market‌‌Demand‌‌Curve‌‌d ‌ escribes‌‌the‌‌relationship‌‌between‌‌how‌‌much‌‌money‌‌(aggregated)‌‌consumers‌‌
are‌‌willing‌‌to‌‌pay‌‌per‌‌unit‌‌of‌‌the‌‌good‌‌and‌‌the‌‌quantity‌‌(aggregated)‌‌of‌‌the‌‌goods‌‌consumed.‌ ‌
→‌‌depends‌‌on:‌ ‌
- price‌ ‌
- income‌ ‌
- expectations‌‌of‌‌price‌‌movement...‌ ‌
-⇒ ‌‌Quantity = f (price, income, marketing, ...) ‌
‌
However,‌‌we‌‌will‌‌express‌‌a‌‌simplified‌‌demand‌‌curve‌‌in‌‌terms‌‌of‌‌the‌‌price:‌
1. Q = a bP ‌ −
- a‌‌=‌‌quantity‌‌demanded‌‌when‌‌price‌‌is‌‌very‌‌small‌ ‌
- a/b‌‌=‌‌the‌‌maximum‌‌willingness‌‌to‌‌pay‌ ‌
⇒‌‌this‌‌equation‌‌is‌‌used‌‌when‌‌firms‌‌have‌‌a‌f‌ ixed‌‌quantity‌‌‌but‌‌can‌‌easily‌‌
change‌‌the‌‌price‌‌(e.g.‌‌bakkery)‌‌=‌p ‌ rice-focused‌ ‌
‌
−
2. P = A B Q (‌ i‌nverse‌)‌ ‌
- A‌‌=‌‌the‌‌maximum‌‌willingness‌‌to‌‌pay‌ ‌
- A/B‌‌=‌‌quantity‌‌demanded‌‌when‌‌price‌‌is‌‌very‌‌small‌ ‌
⇒‌‌this‌‌equation‌‌is‌‌used‌‌when‌‌firms‌‌have‌‌a‌v‌ ariable‌‌quantity‌‌‌(in‌‌extremely‌‌
concentrated‌‌markets‌‌e.g.‌‌oil,‌‌gold,...)‌‌=‌q ‌ uantity-focused‌ ‌
‌

,We‌‌need‌‌to‌‌ask‌‌ourselves‌‌whether‌‌a‌‌linear‌‌market‌‌demand‌‌curve‌‌is‌‌even‌‌realistic?‌ ‌
- it‌‌has‌‌a‌f‌ unctional‌‌form‌‌ ‌
→‌‌closer‌‌to‌‌an‌‌estimation,‌‌yet‌‌fairly‌‌accurate‌‌a‌‌local‌‌level‌ ‌
‌
- it‌‌does‌‌no‌‌take‌‌into‌‌account‌‌the‌t‌ ime‌f‌actor‌ ‌
a. short‌‌run:‌‌no‌‌possibility‌‌to‌‌change‌‌production‌‌facilities‌ ‌
b. long‌‌run:‌‌firm‌‌can‌‌change‌‌its‌‌production‌‌facilities‌‌to‌‌meet‌‌demand‌ ‌
→‌‌but‌‌market‌‌demand‌‌curve‌‌does‌‌not‌‌make‌‌the‌‌distinction,‌‌though‌‌markets‌‌change‌‌constantly‌ ‌
‌
- demand‌‌is‌‌a‌‌function‌‌of‌m ‌ any‌‌aspects‌ ‌
→‌‌income‌‌(cfr.‌‌Engel‌‌Law),‌‌Giffen‌‌goods,‌‌preferences,...‌ ‌
‌
Yet,‌‌despite‌‌its‌‌limitations,‌‌we‌‌will‌‌continue‌‌to‌‌use‌‌the‌‌simple‌‌(inverse)‌‌linear‌‌demand.‌ ‌
→‌‌we‌‌need‌‌to‌‌emphasise‌‌competition,‌‌not‌‌the‌‌demand‌‌curve‌ ‌
→‌‌easy‌‌way‌‌to‌‌find‌‌the‌‌equilibrium‌‌in‌‌any‌‌market‌‌situation‌ ‌
‌
FIRM'S‌‌DEMAND‌ ‌
The‌F ‌ irm's‌‌Demand‌‌g ‌ ives‌‌a‌‌company‌‌an‌‌idea‌‌how‌‌much‌‌they‌‌can‌‌sell,‌‌given‌‌the‌‌price‌‌they‌‌ask:‌ ‌
a. if‌‌there‌‌is‌‌only‌o ⇒
‌ ne‌f‌irm‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌firm's‌‌demand‌‌is‌‌equal‌‌to‌‌the‌‌market‌‌demand‌ ‌
b. if‌‌there‌‌are‌m ⇒
‌ ultiple‌f‌irms‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌firm's‌‌demand‌‌depends‌‌on‌‌other‌‌firms:‌ ‌
⇒
‌‌QJ = f (P J , P K , income, marketing J , marketing K , ....) ‌
‌
Firms‌‌have‌‌an‌‌explicit‌‌(e.g.‌‌through‌‌quantitative‌‌market‌‌analysis)‌‌or‌‌implicit‌‌(e.g.‌‌gut-feeling)‌‌of‌‌the‌‌
⇒
market‌‌demand,‌‌and‌‌they‌‌try‌‌to‌‌increase‌‌their‌‌firm's‌‌demand‌‌ ‌‌they‌‌need‌‌Managerial‌‌Economics.‌ ‌
→‌‌a‌‌good‌‌understanding‌‌of‌‌the‌‌firm's‌‌demand‌‌is‌‌necessary:‌‌indeed,‌‌we‌‌cannot‌‌start‌‌producing‌‌before‌ ‌
‌we‌‌know‌‌what‌‌we‌‌can‌‌sell.‌ ‌
‌
PRICE‌‌ELASTICITY‌‌OF‌‌DEMAND‌‌ ‌
Elasticity:‌‌ ‌

⇒‌‌ε = ×
Δq
q Δq p Δq Δp
Δp = Δp q
‌‌with‌‌ q = percentage change in q ‌and‌‌ p = percentage change in p ‌
p

‌
- if‌‌|ε| = 1 ⇒‌‌if‌‌price‌‌reduces/increases,‌‌the‌‌quantity‌‌will‌‌reduce/increase‌‌by‌‌the‌‌same‌‌amount‌ ‌
- if‌‌|ε| < 1 ⇒‌‌increasing‌‌price‌‌increases‌‌revenues:‌d‌ emand‌‌is‌‌inelastic‌ ‌
- if‌‌|ε| > 1 ⇒‌‌increasing‌‌price‌‌reduces‌‌revenues:‌d‌ emand‌‌is‌‌elastic‌ ‌
‌
Given‌‌a‌‌demand‌‌curve,‌‌you‌‌would‌‌need‌‌to‌‌find:‌ ‌
Δq dq
- Δp = dp =‌‌the‌‌first‌‌derivative‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Q(p)‌‌function‌ ‌

- p/q =‌‌just‌‌fill‌‌in‌ ‌
‌
‌
Cross-elasticity:‌ ‌

⇒‌‌ε ×
Δq 1
q1 Δq 1 p2
1,2 = Δp2 = Δp2 q1
‌
p2

‌
- if‌‌|| ε1,2 || > 0 ⇒‌s‌ ubstitute‌‌‌goods‌ ‌
- if‌‌|| ε1,2 || < 0 ⇒‌c‌ omplement‌‌‌goods‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

,PERFECT‌‌COMPETITION‌ ‌
In‌‌perfect‌‌competition,‌‌firms‌‌and‌‌consumers‌‌are‌p ‌ rice-takers‌ ‌
→‌‌there‌‌is‌‌no‌‌market‌‌power,‌‌no‌‌possibility‌‌to‌‌alter‌‌the‌‌price‌ ‌
→‌‌a‌‌firm‌‌can‌‌sell‌‌as‌‌much‌‌or‌‌as‌‌little‌‌as‌‌it‌‌wants‌‌at‌‌the‌‌ruling‌‌market‌‌price‌ ‌
→‌‌the‌‌demand‌‌curve‌‌for‌‌an‌‌individual‌‌firm‌‌is‌‌therefore‌‌a‌‌horizontal‌‌line‌ ‌
‌
Every‌‌player‌‌in‌‌perfect‌‌competition‌‌will,‌‌as‌‌is‌‌normal,‌‌choose‌‌an‌‌output‌‌level‌‌
that‌‌maximises‌‌their‌‌individual‌‌profit.‌ ‌
→‌‌MC‌‌=‌‌MR‌‌and‌‌because‌‌each‌‌product‌‌is‌‌sold‌‌at‌‌the‌‌market‌‌price,‌‌ ‌
M
‌ R‌‌=‌‌P‌‌=‌‌MC‌:‌‌price‌‌therefore‌‌equals‌‌marginal‌‌costs‌‌in‌‌perfect‌‌competition‌ ‌
→‌‌for‌‌every‌‌individual‌‌company,‌‌the‌‌optimal‌‌output‌‌level‌‌q‌‌will‌‌be‌‌summed‌ ‌
‌and‌‌this‌‌gives‌‌us‌‌the‌‌aggregate‌‌output‌‌level‌‌Q‌ ‌
‌
The‌‌market‌‌demand‌‌curve‌‌still‌‌has‌‌a‌‌negative‌‌slope:‌ ‌
→‌‌if‌‌the‌‌entire‌‌market‌‌output‌‌or‌‌price‌‌changes,‌‌the‌‌effect‌‌is‌‌still‌‌noticeable‌‌in‌ ‌
‌the‌‌demand‌‌curve‌ ‌
‌
(graphs‌‌are‌‌for‌o ‌ ne‌‌‌individual‌‌company‌‌left‌‌and‌‌for‌‌the‌e
‌ ntire‌‌‌market‌‌right)‌ ‌
‌
MONOPOLY‌ ‌
If‌‌there‌‌is‌‌only‌‌one‌‌firm‌‌in‌‌the‌‌market,‌‌its‌‌firm's‌‌demand‌‌curve‌‌would‌‌be‌‌identical‌‌to‌‌the‌‌market‌‌demand.‌ ‌
→‌‌it‌‌could‌‌singlehandedly‌‌influence‌‌the‌‌price‌‌as‌‌it‌‌can‌‌singlehandedly‌‌choose‌‌the‌‌supply‌ ‌
‌
As‌‌a‌‌monopolist‌‌has‌‌the‌‌opportunity‌‌to‌‌choose‌‌the‌‌quantity‌‌/‌‌price‌‌as‌‌he‌‌pleases,‌‌he‌‌is‌‌also‌‌
faced‌‌with‌‌a‌‌production‌‌dilemma:‌ ‌
−
→‌‌producing‌‌ΔQ = Q2 Q1 more‌‌units‌‌increases‌‌revenue‌‌with‌‌G‌ ‌
→‌b −
‌ ut‌‌‌decreased‌‌price‌‌with‌‌ΔP = P 1 P 2 and‌‌thus‌‌revenue‌‌with‌‌L‌ ‌
What‌‌choice‌‌should‌‌the‌‌monopolist‌‌make‌‌if‌‌he‌‌wants‌‌to‌‌maximize‌‌profits?‌ ‌
‌
Like‌‌any‌‌other‌‌firm,‌‌we‌‌need‌‌to‌‌keep‌‌the‌‌optimality‌‌condition‌‌in‌‌mind:‌‌MR‌‌=‌‌MC.‌ ‌
So,‌‌what‌‌is‌‌MR?‌ ‌
× × −
→‌‌T R = q uantity price = Q (A B Q) = AQ B 2 Q ‌ −
⇒ dT R(Q)
‌‌M R = dQ = A 2BQ ‌ −
The‌‌MR-curve‌‌of‌‌a‌‌monopolist‌‌has‌‌the‌‌same‌‌intercept‌‌as‌‌its‌‌demand‌‌curve,‌‌but‌‌twice‌‌the‌‌
slope.‌‌This‌‌means‌‌that‌‌the‌‌MR-curve‌‌will‌‌always‌‌lie‌‌beneath‌‌the‌‌demand‌‌curve.‌ ‌
‌
The‌‌main‌‌difference‌‌between‌‌a‌‌monopolist‌‌and‌‌a‌‌firm‌‌in‌‌perfect‌‌competition‌‌is‌‌that‌ ‌
the‌‌MR‌‌is‌n ‌ ot‌‌equal‌a ‌ nd‌a‌ lways‌‌less‌t‌han‌‌the‌‌actual‌‌market‌‌price.‌‌ ‌
‌
Following‌‌the‌‌optimality‌‌rule,‌‌MC=MR,‌‌the‌‌monopolist‌‌will‌‌product‌‌QM units‌‌ ‌
but‌‌will‌‌sell‌‌them‌‌at‌‌a‌‌clearing‌‌price‌‌of‌‌P M ‌
×
→‌‌the‌‌total‌‌revenue‌‌QM P M ‌is‌‌greater‌‌than‌‌the‌‌total‌‌costs‌‌AC(Q) QM ‌ ×
and‌‌thus‌‌the‌‌monopolist‌‌attains‌‌an‌e ‌ conomic‌‌profit‌.‌ ‌
‌
It‌‌is‌‌therefore‌‌interesting,‌‌for‌‌any‌‌firm,‌‌to‌‌try‌‌and‌‌achieve‌‌a‌‌certain‌‌level‌‌of‌‌market‌‌power.‌ ‌
In‌‌a‌‌perfect‌‌competition,‌‌economic‌‌profit‌‌is‌‌by‌‌no‌‌means‌‌possible‌u ‌ nless‌‌‌in‌‌the‌‌short‌‌run.‌ ‌




‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
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‌

,PART‌‌TWO‌ ‌
‌
In‌‌this‌‌course,‌‌we‌‌adapt‌‌a‌n ‌ eoclassical‌‌approach‌‌‌in‌‌which‌‌a‌‌firm‌‌is‌‌solely‌‌envisioned‌‌as‌‌a‌‌production‌‌
unit:‌‌the‌‌firm‌‌transforms‌‌inputs‌‌into‌‌outputs:‌ ‌
→‌g ‌ oal‌:‌‌maximize‌‌profits‌‌and‌‌hence‌‌minimize‌‌the‌‌production‌‌costs‌‌ ‌
‌
COST‌‌RELATIONSHIPS‌ ‌
A‌‌firm‌‌is‌‌characterised‌‌by‌‌a‌p ‌ roduction‌‌function‌‌‌for‌‌a‌‌single‌‌product‌‌q.‌‌This‌‌function‌‌specifies‌‌the‌‌quantity‌‌
q‌‌that‌‌the‌‌firm‌‌produced‌‌from‌‌using‌‌k‌‌different‌‌inputs:‌‌q = f (x1 , x2 , ..., xk ) ‌
‌
The‌‌relationship‌‌between‌‌the‌‌output‌‌choice‌‌(production‌‌function)‌‌and‌‌the‌‌production‌‌costs‌‌is‌‌expressed‌‌
using‌‌the‌c‌ ost‌‌function‌:‌‌C (q) + F ‌.‌‌As‌‌we‌‌are‌‌looking‌‌to‌‌maximize‌‌profits,‌‌we‌‌will‌‌solve:‌ ‌
k
M inimize ∑ wi xi ‌s.t. f (x1 , x2 , ..., xk ) = Q ‌‌with‌‌Q‌‌=‌‌the‌‌chosen‌‌production‌‌level‌ ‌
i=1
solving‌‌this‌‌linear‌‌problem‌‌for‌a
‌ ll‌‌‌quantity‌‌levels,‌‌results‌‌in‌‌the‌‌optimal‌‌cost‌‌function‌ ‌
where‌‌costs‌‌are‌‌minimized.‌ ‌
‌
There‌‌are‌‌4‌‌categories‌‌of‌‌costs:‌ ‌
1. Fixed‌‌costs‌:‌‌a‌‌given‌‌amount‌‌of‌‌expenditure‌‌that‌‌the‌‌firm‌‌must‌‌incur‌e ‌ ach‌‌p
‌ eriod‌‌‌and‌‌that‌‌is‌‌
unrelated‌‌‌to‌‌how‌‌much‌‌output‌‌the‌‌firm‌‌produces.‌ ‌
‌
2. Average‌‌costs‌:‌‌the‌‌total‌‌costs‌‌divided‌‌by‌‌output:‌ ‌
- Average F ixed Costs : F /Q ‌
- Average V ariable Costs : C(Q)/Q ‌
‌
3. Marginal‌‌costs‌:‌‌the‌‌addition‌‌to‌‌total‌‌costs‌‌that‌‌is‌‌incurred‌‌in‌‌increasing‌‌output‌‌by‌‌one‌‌unit‌ ‌
→‌‌M arginal Costs : dC(Q)/dQ ‌
‌
4. Sunk‌‌costs‌:‌‌costs‌‌that‌‌are‌‌also‌u ‌ nrelated‌‌‌to‌‌the‌‌output,‌‌but‌‌that‌‌are‌‌spent‌‌before‌‌measuring‌‌the‌‌
total‌‌costs‌‌(e.g.‌‌licences,‌‌research‌‌expenditures,...)‌‌and‌‌are‌‌also‌u ‌ nrecoverable‌‌‌if‌‌the‌‌firm‌‌
decides‌‌to‌‌exit‌‌the‌‌market.‌ ‌
‌
COST‌‌VARIABLES‌‌AND‌‌OUTPUT‌‌DECISIONS‌‌ ‌
Profit‌‌maximization‌‌over‌‌any‌‌period‌‌of‌‌time‌‌requires‌‌that‌‌the‌‌produced‌‌where‌M ‌ C‌‌=‌‌MR‌.‌ ‌
But‌‌‌it‌‌is‌‌important‌‌to‌‌note‌‌that‌‌this‌‌is‌‌only‌‌applicable‌i‌f‌‌the‌‌company‌‌produces‌.‌ ‌
‌
A‌‌company‌‌can‌‌produce‌‌in‌‌its‌‌equilibrium‌‌but‌‌the‌‌total‌‌revenue‌‌could‌‌be‌‌smaller‌‌than‌‌the‌‌
total‌‌costs.‌‌This‌‌happens‌‌when‌‌the‌‌equilibrium‌‌is‌‌under‌‌the‌‌AVC-curve.‌ ‌
→‌‌in‌‌this‌‌case,‌‌the‌‌firm‌‌would‌‌not‌‌produce‌‌and‌‌leave‌‌the‌‌market‌‌=‌s‌ hut-down‌‌decision‌ ‌
‌
In‌‌short,‌‌output‌‌decisions‌‌are‌‌based‌‌on:‌ ‌
1. Marginal‌‌Costs‌ ‌
→‌‌to‌‌decide‌h ‌ ow‌‌much‌‌‌to‌‌produce:‌‌MC‌‌=‌‌MR‌ ‌
2. Average‌‌Costs‌ ‌
→‌‌to‌‌decide‌‌if‌‌the‌‌firm‌‌will‌‌even‌‌produce‌‌in‌‌the‌l‌ong‌‌run‌ ‌
(losses‌‌in‌‌the‌‌SR‌‌are‌‌tolerated,‌n ‌ ot‌‌‌in‌‌the‌‌long‌‌run)‌ ‌
3. Average‌‌Variable‌‌Costs‌‌ ‌
→‌‌to‌‌decide‌‌if‌‌the‌‌firm‌‌will‌‌even‌‌produce‌‌in‌‌the‌s ‌ hort‌‌run‌ ‌
(price‌‌<‌‌AC‌‌can‌‌be‌‌tolerated,‌‌price‌‌<‌‌AVC‌n ‌ ot‌‌‌because‌‌then‌‌every‌‌unit‌‌is‌‌a‌‌loss)‌ ‌

‌
ECONOMIES‌‌OF‌‌SCALE‌‌ ‌
The‌‌state‌‌of‌‌affairs‌‌in‌‌which‌‌average‌‌costs‌‌fall‌‌as‌‌output‌‌increases,‌‌meaning‌‌that‌‌the‌‌cost‌‌per‌‌unit‌‌of‌‌
output‌‌declines‌‌as‌‌the‌‌scale‌‌of‌‌operations‌‌rises.‌ ‌
⇒
→‌f‌alling‌‌AC-curve‌‌ ‌ ‌MC‌‌<‌‌AC‌ ‌
‌
AC(Q)
We‌‌define‌‌S = M C(Q) ‌
- ⇒
if‌‌S‌‌>‌‌1‌‌ ‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scale‌ ‌
- ⇒
if‌‌S‌‌=‌‌1‌‌ ‌m‌ inimum‌‌efficient‌‌scale‌‌
- ⇒
if‌‌S‌‌<‌‌1‌‌ ‌‌diseconomies‌‌of‌‌scale‌ ‌

,We‌‌conclude‌‌that‌‌the‌‌greater‌‌the‌‌extent‌‌of‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scale,‌‌the‌‌larger‌‌the‌‌output‌‌at‌‌which‌‌the‌‌average‌‌
cost‌‌is‌‌minimized,‌‌the‌‌fewer‌‌firms‌‌that‌‌can‌‌operate‌‌efficiently‌‌in‌‌the‌‌market‌ ‌
⇒ ‌l‌arger‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scale‌‌for‌‌a‌‌few‌‌firms‌‌will‌‌result‌‌in‌‌concentrated‌‌markets‌ ‌
‌
Now,‌‌what‌‌causes‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scale?‌ ‌
- underlying‌‌technology‌ ‌
⇒
- greater‌‌scale‌‌of‌‌operations‌‌ ‌‌specialization‌‌and‌‌division‌‌of‌‌labor‌ ‌
- economies‌‌on‌‌inventory,‌‌repair,...‌ ‌
- capacity‌‌related‌‌solutions‌‌(e.g.‌‌volume‌‌of‌‌container‌‌that‌‌increases‌‌exponentially)‌ ‌
‌
ECONOMIES‌‌OF‌‌SCOPE‌ ‌
The‌‌state‌‌of‌‌affairs‌‌in‌‌which‌‌it‌‌is‌‌less‌‌costly‌‌to‌‌produce‌‌a‌‌set‌‌of‌‌goods‌‌in‌‌one‌‌firm‌‌than‌‌it‌‌is‌‌to‌‌produce‌‌that‌‌
set‌‌in‌‌two‌‌or‌‌more‌‌firms.‌ ‌
‌
We‌‌define‌‌S C =
−
C(q 1 , 0) + F 1 + C(0, q 2 ) + F [C(q 1 , q 2 ) + F ]
‌
C(q 1 , q 2 ) + F

- ⇒
if‌‌S‌‌>‌‌0‌‌ ‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scope‌ ‌
- ⇒
if‌‌S‌‌=‌‌0‌‌ ‌‌critical‌‌point,‌‌indifference‌ ‌
- ⇒
if‌‌S‌‌<‌‌0‌‌ ‌‌no‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scope‌ ‌
‌
The‌‌concept‌‌of‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scope‌‌is‌‌an‌‌important‌‌one,‌‌as‌‌it‌‌provides‌‌the‌‌central‌‌technological‌‌reason‌‌
for‌‌the‌‌existence‌‌of‌‌multiproduct‌‌firms.‌‌There‌‌are‌‌two‌‌causes‌‌for‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scope:‌ ‌
1. Shared‌‌inputs‌ ‌
→‌‌e.g.‌‌shared‌‌R&D,‌‌equipment‌‌that‌‌can‌‌be‌‌used‌‌for‌‌multiple‌‌products,...‌ ‌
‌
2. Cost‌‌complementarities‌‌ ‌
→‌‌producing‌‌one‌‌good‌‌reduces‌‌the‌‌cost‌‌of‌‌another‌ ‌
‌
MARKET‌‌STRUCTURE‌‌ ‌
The‌M ‌ arket‌‌Structure‌‌i‌s‌‌defined‌‌as‌‌the‌‌amount‌‌and‌‌size‌‌of‌‌firms‌‌within‌‌that‌‌market‌‌+‌‌other‌‌factors.‌ ‌
How‌‌to‌‌measure‌‌the‌‌market‌‌structure?‌‌ ‌
- summary‌‌measures‌‌(e.g.‌‌number‌‌of‌‌firms,‌‌market‌‌share‌‌of‌‌each‌‌firm,...)‌ ‌
- concentration‌‌curve‌ ‌
- concentration‌‌ratios‌‌(e.g.‌‌C Rn )‌ ‌
- Herfindahl-Hirschman‌‌Index‌‌(HII)‌ ‌
‌
Summary‌‌measures‌ ‌
‌
Most‌‌of‌‌the‌‌times‌‌fairly‌i‌n‌accurate‌‌as‌‌is‌‌hard‌‌to‌‌list‌‌all‌‌competitors‌‌within‌‌one‌‌
market.‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
Concentration‌‌Curve‌‌ ‌
‌
How‌‌large‌‌are‌‌the‌‌largest‌‌firms?‌‌→‌‌cfr.‌‌steepness‌‌of‌‌curve‌ ‌
How‌‌quickly‌‌do‌‌we‌‌reach‌‌100%?‌ ‌
…‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
Concentration‌‌Ratios‌ ‌
e.g.‌‌C R4 =‌‌ratio‌‌that‌‌tells‌‌you‌‌how‌‌much‌‌market‌‌share‌‌the‌‌4‌‌largest‌‌firms‌‌in‌‌a‌‌market‌‌have‌‌combined.‌ ‌
‌
Herfindahl-Hirschman‌‌Index‌‌(HHI)‌ ‌
N
H HI = ∑ si2 ‌‌=‌‌sum‌‌of‌s
‌ quared‌m
‌ arket‌‌shares‌‌of‌‌each‌‌company.‌ ‌
i=1
‌

, MARKET‌‌DEFINITION‌ ‌
We‌‌understand‌‌that‌‌it‌‌is‌‌impossible‌‌to‌‌calculate‌‌metrics‌‌on‌‌the‌‌market‌‌structure,‌‌if‌‌we‌‌have‌‌no‌‌clear‌‌
definition‌‌of‌‌the‌‌market‌‌we‌‌are‌‌studying.‌‌But‌‌defining‌‌a‌‌market‌‌is‌‌no‌‌easy‌‌thing‌‌to‌‌do:‌ ‌
‌
1. define‌‌by‌‌substitutability‌‌in‌p ‌ roduction‌ ‌
→‌‌standard‌‌approach,‌‌based‌‌on‌‌industry‌‌codes‌‌ ‌
→‌‌but‌‌limitations‌ ‌
‌
2. define‌‌by‌‌substitutability‌‌in‌c ‌ onsumption‌‌ ‌
→‌‌=‌d ‌ emand‌‌substitutability‌‌ ‌
→‌‌based‌‌on‌‌cross-price‌‌elasticity‌‌ ‌
‌
We‌‌should‌‌also‌‌ask‌‌ourselves:‌w ‌ hat‌‌drives‌‌potential‌‌market‌‌concentration?‌‌ ‌
a. economies‌‌of‌‌scale‌‌/‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scope‌ ‌
→‌‌larger‌‌firms‌‌become‌‌more‌‌efficient,‌‌concentration‌‌rises‌ ‌
‌
b. network‌‌externalities‌ ‌
→‌‌concentrated,‌‌even‌‌though‌‌there‌‌could‌‌be‌‌no‌‌economies‌‌of‌‌scale‌‌/‌‌scope‌ ‌
‌
c. government‌‌and‌‌antitrust‌‌policy‌ ‌
→‌‌by‌‌limiting‌‌entry,‌‌patent‌‌system,‌‌blocking‌‌of‌‌mergers,...‌ ‌
‌
‌
PART‌‌THREE‌ ‌
‌
THE‌‌CONCEPT‌‌OF‌‌DISCOUNTING‌ ‌
Both‌‌the‌‌competition‌‌and‌‌monopoly‌‌models‌‌are‌‌somewhat‌‌vague‌‌with‌‌respect‌‌to‌‌time.‌ ‌
As‌‌we‌‌know‌‌money‌‌has‌‌a‌‌time‌‌value,‌‌the‌‌meaning‌‌of‌‌profit‌‌or‌‌break-even‌‌is‌‌less‌‌clear.‌ ‌
→‌‌we‌‌need‌‌a‌‌way‌‌to‌‌convert‌‌tomorrow's‌‌money‌‌into‌‌today's‌‌money‌ ‌
⇒ ‌‌we‌‌will‌‌make‌‌use‌‌of‌‌discounting‌‌and‌‌Net‌‌Present‌‌Value‌ ‌
‌
(Net)‌‌Present‌‌Value‌‌is‌‌directly‌‌relevant‌‌to‌‌profit‌‌maximization:‌ ‌
- for‌o ‌ ne-period‌p ‌ roblems,‌‌we‌‌just‌‌continue‌‌to‌‌use‌‌the‌M‌ R‌‌=‌‌MC‌‌‌optimality‌‌constraint‌ ‌
‌
- for‌m ‌ ultiperiod‌p ‌ roblems,‌‌we‌‌need‌‌to‌‌make‌‌sure‌‌that‌‌the‌‌present‌‌value‌‌of‌‌future‌‌income‌‌streams‌‌
must‌‌at‌‌least‌‌cover‌‌the‌‌present‌‌value‌‌of‌‌the‌‌expenses‌‌in‌‌establishing‌‌the‌‌project:‌P ‌ V‌‌-‌‌I‌‌>‌‌0‌‌ ‌
‌
EFFICIENCY‌‌AND‌‌SURPLUS‌ ‌
Why‌‌are‌‌monopolies‌‌often‌‌blocked?‌‌ ‌
→‌r‌ eason‌:‌‌monopolies‌‌are‌i‌n‌efficient.‌ ‌
‌
Efficiency‌:‌a ‌ ‌‌market‌‌outcome‌‌is‌‌efficient‌‌when‌‌it‌‌is‌‌impossible‌‌to‌‌find‌‌a‌‌small‌‌change‌‌in‌‌the‌‌allocation‌‌of‌‌
capital,‌‌labor,‌‌goods‌‌or‌‌services‌‌that‌‌would‌‌improve‌‌the‌‌well-being‌‌of‌‌individuals‌‌without‌‌hurting‌‌others.‌‌ ‌
→‌‌an‌‌analysis‌‌of‌‌surpluses‌‌will‌‌give‌‌us‌‌an‌‌idea‌‌of‌‌why‌‌a‌‌monopoly‌‌is‌‌inefficient‌‌and‌‌thus‌‌unwanted‌ ‌
‌
PERFECT‌‌COMPETITION‌ ‌
Efficiency‌‌is‌‌basically‌‌a‌‌measure‌‌of‌‌well-being.‌ ‌
a. Consumer‌‌surplus‌:‌t‌he‌‌difference‌‌between‌‌the‌‌maximum‌‌amount‌‌a‌‌consumer‌‌is‌‌
⇒
willing‌‌to‌‌pay,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌amount‌‌actually‌‌paid‌‌ ‌C ‌ S‌‌‌(aggregated)‌ ‌
‌
b. Producer‌‌surplus‌:‌t‌he‌‌difference‌‌between‌‌the‌‌amount‌‌a‌‌producer‌‌receives‌‌from‌‌a‌‌
⇒
sale‌‌and‌‌the‌‌amount‌‌that‌‌the‌‌sale‌‌cost‌‌him‌‌ ‌P ‌ S‌‌‌(aggregated)‌ ‌
‌
In‌‌this‌‌diagram‌‌(perfect‌‌competition),‌‌we‌‌can‌‌see‌‌that‌‌both‌‌surpluses‌‌are‌‌maximized.‌ ‌
→‌‌the‌‌competitive‌‌equilibrium‌‌is‌e ‌ fficient‌‌‌and‌‌welfare‌‌is‌‌maximized‌



‌
‌

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