ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Economic Analysis
For Business and Strategic Decisions
14.0 Credit Hours 295 pages 13 Chapters 13 Quizzes 1 Online Final
Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Written by Jae K. Shim MBA, Ph.D.
This course focuses on the fundamentals and essentials needed to understand how business decisions are reached, and how they are tackled using economic theory and decision science methodology. The course teaches the student how to apply economic concepts and tools to solving real-life business problems. The student will learn how to use economic thinking to make business and strategic decisions, including pricing strategies. Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to: Explain and list the functions associated with managerial economics. Identify the sources and give examples of accounting profits. Understand and explain the concept of profit maximization. Define a derivative and the use of a partial derivative. Facilitate and implement the process to achieve profit maximization. Demonstrate and give examples of the Lagrangean function. Define the demand function and demonstrate the demand schedule. Calculate and explain the point price elasticity concept. Design consumer surveys. Conduct and discuss market experiments. Compute and give an example of linear regression. Identify and give examples of an econometric model. Calculate and implement input-output analysis. Compute the mean squared error (MSE). Interpret and explain the returns to scale. Explain and illustrate the production function. Define linear programming (LP). Distinguish between the total variable costs and the total fixed costs.
This course includes: 13 Chapters 13 Review Exercises with Answer Keys An Online Final Exam Appendix Glossary
Internal Control and Fraud Detection Page 2
Disclaimer: The material presented within this course is for informational and educational purposes only. It should not be used to provide guidance to your customers or clients in lieu of competent, certified legal advice. All parties involved in the development of this course shall not be liable for any inappropriate use of this information beyond the purpose stated above. As a student, you should understand that it is your responsibility to adhere to the laws and regulations pertaining to any aspect of this course and the materials presented within.
Table of contents
Chapter 1 The Fundamentals of Managerial Economics Chapter 2 Optimization Techniques Chapter 3 Market Forces: Demand and Supply Chapter 4 Quantitative Demand Analysis Chapter 5 Economic and Business Forecasting Chapter 6 Theory of Production Chapter 7 Multiple Product Planning and Linear Programming Chapter 8 Cost: Theory and Analysis Chapter 9 Markets and the Behavior of the Firm Chapter 10 Pricing Policies and Strategies Chapter 11 Long-Term Investment Decisions (Capital Budgeting) Chapter 12 Risk in Project Analysis Chapter 13 A Manager's Guide to Government in the Market Place 6 18 38 66 86 113 135 158 190 207 221 247 270
Appendix Glossary
282 289
PREFACE This course provides a clear and concise introduction to managerial economics. The course managerial economics is offered in a variety of titles including business economics, economic analysis for business decisions, economics for management decisions, etc. at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It focuses on the fundamentals and essentials needed to understand how business decisions are made and they are tackled using economics and other quantitative tools. It illustrates decisions with many solved problems to test and help students reinforce their understanding of the subject. Further, many business professionals can benefit from this course. The reader is assumed to have done some introductory-level work in economics. A minimal amount of background in college-level math and statistics is also expected. This course extensively and intensively shows the application of economic theory and concepts to real-life business decisions. It consists of questions and problems along with their answers and suggested solutions.
Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 5
CHAPTER 1 THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. Explain and list the functions associated with managerial economics. 2. Identify the sources and give examples of accounting profits. 3. Describe the role of economic profits. 4. Compute and define the concept of time value of money. 5. Analyze and detail the process of deriving the present value. 6. Detail and explain the value of a firm. 7. Understand and explain the concept of profit maximization. 8. Articulate and elaborate how wealth (shareholder) value is maximized. 9. Explain and give examples of marginal analysis. 10. Diagnose and implement strategies to optimize profits. Managerial economics (or business economics) is economics applied in decision making. It is a branch of economics that applies economic theory and decision science methodology to solve business and managerial problems. Its objective is to bridge the gap between abstract economic theory and managerial practice. It is the systematic study of how resources should be allocated in such a way to most efficiently achieve a managerial goal. We often find that economic theory and tools are not sufficient to tackle all kinds of managerial problems. We borrow a variety of techniques and tools taken from finance, operations research, and other business disciplines. In this sense, economic theory and tools on one hand and business disciplines on the other are blended into the subject. ECONOMIC THEORY AND TOOLS
.Demand theory .Theory of the firm .Production theory .Market structure .Macroeconomics
DECISION SCIENCES AND TOOLS

.Optimization .Statistical methods .Forecasting and estimation .Finance and investment .Other decision science tools
MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
Use of economic theory and tools and decision sciences methodology to solve business problems and for optimal resource allocation
THE MANAGEMENT DECISION MAKING PROCESS The basic steps that are taken in any decision process include: Step 1 Recognize and define the problem. When management concludes that a problem exists, it should prepare a specific definition or exact statement of the problem. For example, how many of what products should the company produce? Step 2 Select a goal. Is it profit maximizing or cost minimizing? Step 3 Identify any constraints. Management's choice is always limited to some extent by resources available, law, regulatory action, moral values, or management preferences. Any constraints which might exist need to be identified. Step 4 Identify alternatives or define decision variables a firm is trying to solve for. Step 5 Select the alternative consistent with the firms objectives or determine the optimal solution (i.e., profit-maximizing or cost-minimizing solution). PROFITS A profit is frequently described as a firms bottom line. What then does the bottom line, ethically and legally produced, do for companies? First, it is a clear message that the company is delivering products or services that people need or want--especially at prices they are willing to pay. Also, a good bottom line means that the company has its costs in line. It also means efficiency. Why do companies need to produce a good bottom line? THE ROLE OF PROFITS A good bottom line allows companies to 1. Reward investors for risking their capital. 2. Research and develop new and better products or services. 3. Add jobs to employees, reward employees, and provide opportunities for employee growth and development. 4. Take pride in efficient performance. ACCOUNTING VS. ECONOMIC PROFITS We must differentiate between accounting profits and economic profits. Accounting profits, also called business profits, are the difference between the total revenue and the cost of producing goods or services. Accounting profits are what shows up on the bottom line of the firms income statement. Economic profits, on the other hand, are the difference between the total revenue and the total opportunity costs. The opportunity cost of using a resource results in economic costs that include both the explicit cost of the resource and the implicit cost of forsaking the next-best alternative use of the resource. For this reason, the opportunity cost is generally higher than accounting or bookkeeping costs. For example, the opportunity cost of attending summer school is the cost of tuition and textbooks plus the amount of money you would earn had you decided to work during the summer session. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 7
PROFIT MAXIMIZATION AND MARGINAL ANALYSIS The goal of a firm is to maximize its profit. This is the traditional theory of the firm, which is distinguished from the behavioral theory of the firm. Marginal analysis suggests that business decisions should be made and actions taken only when marginal revenues (MR) exceed marginal costs (MC). (MR is the additional revenue resulting from the sale of an additional unit of output and MC is the cost of the inputs used to make an additional unit of output). If MR = MC, a given decision should maximize the firm's profits. EXAMPLE 1 Let TR(Q) denote the total revenue a firm generates from producing Q units of output and let TC(Q) represent the total costs to the firm of producing Q units of output. The profit ( ) then is: (Q) = TR(Q) - TC(Q). The manager facing a situation like that summarized in columns of 1 through 3 in Table 1 wishes to determine the output quantity that will maximize its profits. TABLE 1 MARGINAL ANALYSIS Q (1) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 TR(Q) (2) 0 90 170 240 300 350 390 420 440 450 450 TC(Q) (3) 0 10 30 60 100 150 210 280 360 450 550
(Q)
(4) = (2) - (3) 0 80 140 180 200 200 180 140 80 0 -100
MR 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 MC 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
MR>MC
MR=MC
MR<MC
The profits are given in column 4. Note from Table 1 that: (a) So long as MR exceeds MC, an increase in Q adds more to total revenues than it does to total costs. (b) The profits in column 4 are maximized when profits equal $200, which occurs when 5 units of Q are chosen by the manager. (c) At the profit maximizing level of Q (5 units), MR = MC (both are equal to $50 in this example). Note that the profit is maximized at 4 units. This situation occurs since we are dealing with discrete output units. In a continuous case which we assume throughout the book, the profit is maximized always when MR = MC. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 8
Unfortunately, the profit-maximization goal, as operationally defined, suffers from some technical flaws: (1) In its problems, it provides no explicit way of considering the risk associated with alternative decisions, (2) it provides no basis for comparing varying flows of revenues and costs over time, and (3) instead of seeking to maximize some objective such as profits, the firm is said to satisfice, or seek acceptable levels of performance, which is another model of the firm known as the behavioral theory of the firm. Furthermore, profit maximization is a short-term goal, which is simply the maximization of profits within a given period of time. WEALTH MAXIMIZATION A more operational goal of the firm is wealth maximization (or stockholders value maximization). It is a long-term goal. Wealth maximization is generally preferred because it considers (1) wealth for the long term, (2) risk or uncertainty, (3) the timing of returns, and (4) the stockholders' return. The wealth-maximization criterion requires that a firm evaluate the expected profits or cash flows associated with a decision, by explicitly accounting for the timing of these flows as well as the risk associated with them. Timing considerations require that future cash flows be adjusted or discounted by some rate of interest that reflect the cost of the funds being used to finance the project. The risk associated with cash flows can be treated in a number of ways, including a way of specifying the probability distribution of the cash flows. The time value of money concept and risk factors will be discussed in detail in Chapters 11 and 12. The behavioral theory of the firm suggests that the firm has multiple goals such as growth, size, and long-term survival. The growth is frequently measured in terms of increased sales, market share, assets, and/or number of employees. A companys long term survival is assured only when business decision making is oriented toward the avoidance or minimization of risk rather than the maximization of profits.
RECOGNIZING THE TIME VALUE OF MONEY A dollar now is worth more than a dollar to be received later. This statement sums up an important principle: money has a time value. The opportunity cost of receiving one dollar in the future is the forgone interest that could be earned on one dollar received today. This opportunity cost reflects the time value of money. Time value of money is an important consideration in making business decisions. The present value (or discounted cash flow) analysis is used widely to account for the timing of cash inflows and outflows. What Is Present Value - How Much Money Is Worth Now? Present value is the value today of future cash flows. The computation of present values (discounting) is the opposite of determining the compounded future value. The interest rate i is referred to as the discount rate. Therefore, PV = EXAMPLE 2 $10,000 you expect to receive 6 years from now at a 15 percent discount rate would be worth $4,320 today. FVn --------(1 + i)n
1 PV = $10,000 (1 + 0.15)
6
= $10,000(0.432) = $4,320
This means that $4,320 invested today at 15 percent for 6 years grows to $10,000. The basic idea of the present value of a future amount can be extended to a series of future cash flows, as shown below.
PV =
FV1 + 1 (1 + i)
n
FV2 .. + FVn 2 n (1 + i) (1 + i) FVt (1+i)

t
t=1
EXAMPLE 3 You are thinking of starting a new product line that initially costs $32,000. Your annual projected cash inflows are: 1 $10,000 2 $20,000 3 $5,000 If you must earn a minimum of 10 percent on your investment, should you undertake this new product line? The present value of this series of mixed streams of cash inflows is calculated as follows: Year 1 2 3 Cash inflows 1/(1+0.10)t $10,000 $20,000 $5,000 0.909 0.826 0.751 Present Value $9,090 16,520 3,755 $29,365
Since the present value of your projected cash inflows is less than the initial investment, you should not undertake this project. Note: Present value calculations can be done using: (a) financial calculators (b) Present value tables (Tables 3 and 4 in the Appendix) (c) Present value function keys in spreadsheet software such as Excel or Lotus 1-2-3. Depending on the method you use, rounding errors in answers are unavoidable. Details on present value analysis are covered in Chapter 11. DEFINING THE VALUE OF THE FIRM The process of determining the value of the firm involves finding the present value of the firms expected future profits (or cash flows), discounted back to the present at an appropriate interest rate. Thus, the basic valuation model can be defined mathematically as
V=
follows:
Ct t t =1 (1 + r)
Where V = present value of the firm Ct = expected future cash flows or profits in period t = 1, ..., n r = required rate of return EXAMPLE 4 Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 11
XYZ Company has the following year-end expected profits in each of the next three years: $30,000, $90,000, and $120,000. Then it shut downs. Assuming a 10 percent interest rate, determine the value of the firm. The present value of this series of profits is calculated as follows: Year 1 2 3 Cash inflows 1/(1+0.10)n $30,000 90,000 120,000 0.909 0.826 0.751 Present Value $27,270 74,340 90,120 $191,730
QUESTIONS 1. Define managerial economics. 2. What is the role of a firm? What is the goal of a firm? 3. Differentiate accounting profits and economic profits. 4. What is the value of a firm? 5. Explain marginal analysis. 6. Define opportunity costs. PROBLEMS 1. You are trying to decide whether to open a new hamburger shop. You presently make $45,000 per year as a free-lance consultant and will have to give up this job if you open the shop. If you elect to open the restaurant, it will cost you annually $245,000 per year in rent and other operating expenses. (a). What are your accounting costs? (b). What are your opportunity costs? 2. The following table shows year-end expected profits for each firm over the next three years. Interest rates are expected to be stable at 8 percent over the next three years. Determine the value of each firm. Firm X Y Profits in Year 1 $60,000 $40,000 Profits in Year 2 $70,000 $80,000 Profits in Year 3 $80,000 $100,000
(a) Discuss the differences in the profits associated with each firm. (b) Which firm has more value?
3. Complete the following table, and answer the accompanying questions: Q 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 TR(Q) 0 200 380 540 680 800 900 970 1,040 1,080 1,100 TC(Q) 0 10 30 60 100 150 210 280 360 450 550
(Q)
MR -
MC -
(a) What level of Q maximizes profits? (b) What is the relation between marginal revenue (MR) and marginal cost (MC) at the level of Q? ANSWERS 1. Managerial economics is the systematic study of how resources should be allocated in such a way to most efficiently achieve a managerial goal. 2. The role of a firm is to allocate limited resources in an optimal manner and to meet the goals of its owners. The goal of a firm is to maximize profits. 3. Accounting profits, also called business profits, are the difference between the total revenue and the cost of producing goods or services. Accounting profits are what shows up on the bottom line of the firms income statements. Economic profits, on the other hand, are the difference between the total revenue and the total opportunity costs. 4. The value of a firm is the present worth of the firms expected future profits, discounted back to the present at an appropriate interest rate. 5. Marginal analysis suggests that business decisions should be made and actions taken only when marginal revenues exceed marginal costs. If this condition exists, a given decision should maximize the firm's profits. 6. Opportunity costs are net benefits forgone by rejecting the next-best use of a resource. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS 1. (a) Accounting costs are $245,000 per year in rent and other operating expenses. (b) Opportunity costs are $290,000 per year. ($45,000 + $245,000).
2. (a) Firm X has the higher first year profits, but the lowest second and third year profits, while Firm Y earns less in the first year than X, but more in years two and three.
(b) The present value of this series of profits is calculated as follows: For Firm X Year 1 2 3 For Firm Y Year 1 2 3 Cash inflows $60,000 70,000 80,000 1/(1+0.08)n 0.926 0.857 0.794 Present Value $55,560 59,990 63,520 $ 179,070 Present Value $ 37,040 68,560 79,400 $ 185,000
Cash inflows $40,000 80,000 100,000
1/(1+0.08)n 0.926 0.857 0.794
Firm Y has the higher present value. 3. Q (1) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 TR(Q) (2) 0 200 380 540 680 800 900 970 1,030 1,080 1,100 TC(Q) (3) 0 10 30 60 100 150 210 280 360 450 550
(Q)
(2) (3) 0 190 350 480 580 650 690 690 680 630 550
MR
MC
200 180 160 140 120 100 70 60 50 20
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
(a) Q = 7 maximizes profits. (b) MR = MC = $70 at Q = 7 units.
CHAPTER 1 QUIZ 1. The basic valuation model (V) can be defined mathematically as A. V= 2 SD / C
(1+ r) C. V= a + bx D. V = PV - I
B. V = t=1
Ct
t
2. Marginal revenue (MR) is A. Equal to price in monopolistic competition. B. The additional revenue resulting from the sale of an additional unit of output. C. The change in total revenue associated with increasing prices. D. Greater than price in perfect competition. 3. Whether a market is competitive or noncompetitive, firms produce at an output at which A. Price equals marginal cost. B. Average costs are minimized. C. Price equals average cost. D. Marginal cost (MC) equals marginal revenue (MR). 4. During the previous year, Henderson Inc. produced 200,000 pogo sticks and sold them all for $10 each. The explicit costs of production were $700,000, and the implicit costs of production were $200,000. The firm had an accounting profit of A. $1.1 million and economic profit of $0. B. $1.3 million and economic profit of $1.1 million. C. $1.3 million and economic profit of $1.3 million. D. $1.3 million and economic profit of $1.5 million.
CHAPTER 1 ANSWER KEY 1. (B) is correct. The process of determining the value of the firm involves finding the present value of the firms expected future profits (or cash flows), discounted back to the present at an appropriate interest rate. Thus, the basic valuation model can be defined mathematically as follows: n Ct V= t t =1 (1 + r) where V = present value of the firm Ct = expected future cash flows or profits in period t = 1, ..., n r = required rate of return (A) is incorrect. This is the economic order quantity (EOQ) model. (C) is incorrect. It is the regression model. (D) is incorrect. (PV I) is the formula for net present value (NPV) used for capital budgeting analysis. 2. (B) is correct. Marginal revenue (MR) is the additional revenue resulting from the sale of an additional unit of output. MR is constant in perfect competition but declines as output rises in other market structures. Equating MR and marginal cost (MC) is the profit-maximizing position for all firms. (A) is incorrect. MR equals price in perfect competition. In monopolistic competition, MR decreases as sales increase. (C) is incorrect. MR is the change in revenue from selling one additional unit of product, not from a change in prices. Moreover, in market structures other than perfect competition, MR declines as sales increase because prices eventually must be lowered to stimulate demand. (D) is incorrect. MR cannot be greater than price. 3. (D) is correct. Whether a market is competitive or noncompetitive, a firm should produce at the level at which marginal cost (MC) equals marginal revenue (MR). The difference between monopoly and perfect competition is reflected in the MR curve. In perfect competition, the price is a constant and therefore equals MR, which is represented by a horizontal line. In a monopoly (or in monopolistic competition), the price declines as output increases resulting in a line of negative slope. (A) is incorrect. Price equals MC only in perfect competition. (B) is incorrect. For a monopolist, the optimal output is less than that at which average cost is lowest. (C) is incorrect. A monopolist's price will not equal average cost. The firm will stop producing before reaching that level. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 16
4. (B) is correct. Implicit costs are amounts that would have been received if self-owned resources had been used outside the firm's business. Economic profit is pure profit, or the excess of revenue over both explicit and implicit costs. Revenues of $2 million minus explicit costs of $700,000 result in accounting income of $1.3 million. That amount is reduced by the $200,000 of implicit costs to arrive at economic profit of $1.1 million. (A) is incorrect. The $200,000 of implicit costs is not deductible in computing accounting income. (C) is incorrect. Economic income will be less than accounting income when there are implicit costs. (D) is incorrect. Implicit costs reduce accounting income rather than increase it.
CHAPTER 2 OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. Define a derivative. 2. Explain the uses of a partial derivative. 3. Calculate and define the slope. 4. Distinguish the characteristics of a second derivative. 5. Identify and compute the extreme point. 6. Formulate the process involved in optimization. 7. Facilitate and implement the process to achieve profit maximization. 8. Understand and explain cost minimization. 9. Define and give examples of constrained optimization. 10. Demonstrate and give examples of the Lagrangean function 11. Discuss and demonstrate the uses of the Lagrangean multiplier. In the field of economics it is often important to talk about relationships between different economic quantities. For example, you will hear that there is a relationship between the price of a good (or service) and the quantity that people will purchase of it. Throughout this course, you will see numerous relationships such as the production function, cost function, and profit function. There are two basic types of analysis: mathematical and graphical. THE CONCEPT OF A FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP The expression y = f(x) (Read "y is a function of x") means that the value of y depends on the value of x. There is a relationship between these variables. For example, the quantity of a commodity that people will purchase depends upon the price for which the commodity can be purchased. This expression tells us nothing, however, about the nature of the relationship. It can mean that as x increases, y increases; or it can mean that it will decrease. y = f(x) means merely that there is a relationship so that for every value of x, there is a value of y. If, however, we say, for example: y = 4x + 5 We have stated a specific hypothesis or idea - we have given content to that relationship. As the value of x increases by 1, the value of y increases by 4. We can in fact know the value of y for every value of x.
USING GRAPHS Consider the following functional relationship: y= 2x + 2 where x stands for the amount of fertilizer used and y for the amount of the resulting crop. We can make a table or schedule of this relationship showing the value of y for a few values of x. Table 1 is as follows: TABLE 1 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP IF X = 0 1 2 3 4 THEN Y = 2 4 6 8 10
FIGURE 1 GRAPH OF A FUNCTION
Each point of the above grid (not just the ones emphasized) represents a value of x and a value of y. For example, the point labeled A represents x = 3, y = 8. To graph this equation, we simply plot two points consistent with the equation on the graph and draw a line through these two points. Each point on the line shows the given value of x (tons of fertilizer) and the corresponding value of y. In mathematics, it is usual to use y as the dependent variable and x as the independent variables and to graph the relationship with x on the horizontal axis and y on the vertical axis. Not all functions can be represented by a straight line on a graph (Those that can are called linear). Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 19
NOTE: Sometimes economists represent the dependent variable on the horizontal axis and the independent variable on the vertical axis. An example of this is in supply and demand analysis for which price (the independent variable) and quantity (the dependent variable) are graphed respectively on the vertical and horizontal axis (See Figure 2).
FIGURE 2 DEMAND AND SUPPLY FUNCTIONS
DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS Differential calculus can be used to determine the rate of change in a function relative to a change in the independent variable. In fact the designation differential refers to differences that occur in the value of a function as a result of changes in the independent variable: y/x where the change in y, y indicates the change in the dependent variable associated with x, the change in the value of x. The main tool provided by differential calculus for the determination of such differences is the derivative. The derivative dy/dx = y = f(x) of a function y = f(x) at x0 is defined as dy y f(x0 + x) - f(x0) --- = lim --- = lim -------------------. dx x->0 x x->0 x This means that the derivative dy/dx = y = f(x) of a function y = f(x) at x0 is the limit of the difference quotient y/x as the change in x approaches zero.
NOTE: Simply put, the derivative is the instantaneous rate of change of a function at a point (x = x0), whereas the difference quotient is the average rate of change over some interval (x0, x0 + x). Only in a straight line case, they are identical. Graphically, the derivative is the slope of the line tangent to the curve at some point x0. This section provides the derivatives of various functions. The rules for differentiation (the process of obtaining the derivative) provided by differential calculus are as follows: RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION Rule 1 (Constant Rule): y= f(x) = c, a constant. The derivative: dy/dx = y= f(x) = 0. This rule holds that whenever the function is a constant, the derivative is zero. That is, the rate of change in a constant relative to a change in the independent variable (or any variable, for that matter) is zero. Example: If y = 13, then dy/dx = 0 Rule 2 (Power Function Rule): y = f(x) = cxn. The derivative: dy/dx=cnxn-1. Examples: If y = x3, then dy/dx = 3x2. If y = x, then dy/dx = 1x0 = 1. Rule 3 (Sum-Difference Rule): y = f(x) + g(x). The derivative: dy/dx = f(x) + g(x), where f(x) = df(x)/dx and g(x) = dg(x)/ dx. This rule holds that the derivative of the sum of two different functions of the same independent variable is the sum of the two derivatives of the different functions. Examples: If y = x4 + 2x, dy/dx = 4x3 + 2. If 4x - 5x2, then dy/dx = 4 - 10x. Rule 4 (Product Rule): y = f(x)g(x). The derivative: dy/dx = f(x)g(x) + g(x)f(x). This rule says that the derivative of the product of two different functions of the same independent variable is the sum of the first function times the derivative of the second function, plus the second function times the derivative of the first. Example: If y = x2(2x - 3), then dy/dx = x2(2 - 0) + (2x - 3)(2x) = 2x2 + 4x2 - 6x = 6x2 - 6x = 6x(x - 1) Rule 5 (Quotient Rule): y = f(x)/g(x). The derivative: dy/dx = f(x)g(x) - g(x)f(x). [g(x)]2 Example: If y = 5x/(2x + 1), then dy/dx = 5(2x + 1) - 2(5x) = (2x + 1)2 5/(2x + 1)
Rule 6 (Chain Rule or Function-of-Function Rule): y =g(z), where z = f(x). dy dz The derivative: dy/dx = ------- = g(z) f(x). dz dx This rule holds that a change in x will produce a change in z, which will, in turn, produce a change in y. Thus, dy/dx, or the rate of change of y with respect to x, is given by the rate of change of z with respect to x, dz/dx. multiplied by the rate of change of y with respect to z, dy/dz. Example: If y = 10z - 2z2 - 3, where z = 2x2 - 1, then dy/dx = (10 - 4z)(4x) = [10 - 4(2x2 - 1)](4x) = (10 - 8x2 + 4)(4x) = 40x - 32x2 + 16x = 56x - 32x2.
Rule 7 (Inverse Function Rule): x = f--1(y), where f--1 refers to the inverse function, not 1/f(y). 1 The derivative: dx/dy = ----dy/dx Example: If y = 5x + 3, then x = 1/5 y - 3/5, and dx/dy = 1/5. The following example shows how the derivative can be used to find the rate of change. EXAMPLE 1 Peruvian Cleaning Supply Company is the exclusive distributor of an important cleaning fluid used by furriers throughout the southeastern U.S. This cleaning fluid is used to prepare fur garments for protective storage in refrigerated vaults during the humid summer season. Peruvian delivers the cleaner in tank trucks, and each customer must take at least 100 gallons. The price is $12 per gallon. A discount of $0.05 per gallon is granted to each customer purchasing in quantities greater than the 100-gallon minimum. This discount applies only to quantities above the minimum; the first 100 gallons are charged at $12 per gallon regardless of the total number of gallons delivered. Management formulated the following mathematical expression for total revenue (TR) per customer on the basis of the information given: TR = $12(100) + [$12 $0.05(x 100)] (x 100) = 500 + 22x 0.05x2 This is a quadratic function. The derivative formula for this function is: dTR/dx= 22 0.10x. NOTE: The derivative for the TR function gives the marginal revenue (MR), i.e., the increase in TR resulting from an additional unit of output. By the same token, marginal cost (MC) equals the derivative of the total cost function.
This derivative reflects the fact that the rate of change is not constant. That is, the rate of change depends on the value of the variable x, so the rate of change will itself change as the value of g changes. This variability in the rate of change is consistent with the fact that the rate of change of a quadratic function continually varies. To find the rate of change in TR when a particular number of gallons is sold to a customer, the number of gallons is substituted for x in the derivative. For example, to find the rate of change (per gallon) in TR at 105 gallons, the following calculation is necessary based on the derivative: 22 0.10(105) = 22 10.50 = 11.50. That is, total revenue is changing by $11.50 at this volume of sales to a particular customer. At sales of 110 gallons, the rate of change is $11, as determined below, again on the basis of the derivative: 22 0.10(110) = 22 11 = 11. In other words, total revenue is changing at the rate of $11 when sales are 110 gallons in contrast to $11.50 when sales are 105 gallons. THE EXTREME VALUE OF A FUNCTION AND THE DERIVATIVE TESTS The extreme value of a function (the maximum or minimum value) that the function can assume is very important in economic decision making. Much of economics deals with optimization, that is the maximization of profit or minimization of costs. THE FIRST DERIVATIVE TEST The first derivative test (or first-order condition) is used to determine extreme points of a function (See Figure 3). It states that dy/dx = y= f(x0) = 0 at a local maximum or minimum point and x0 is called an extreme (critical) value of the function. It involves three steps: (1) find the derivative, (2) set it equal to zero, and (3) solve for the value of x . The second derivative is arrived at by applying the rules of differentiation to the first derivative rather than to the original function. That is, the first derivative is itself differentiated, and the result is the second derivative. The second derivative is the derivative of the first derivative, denoted with d2y/dx2 = y= f(x). EXAMPLE 2 Suppose y = f(x) = 3x2. Then, dy/dx = f(x) = 6x. The result, 6x, is the first derivative. The second derivative d2y/dx2 = y= f(x) = 6.
NOTE: The second derivative is the measure of the rate of change of the first derivative. In other words, it measures the rate of change of the slope of the original function f(x).
FIGURE 3 MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM POINTS
THE SECOND DERIVATIVE TEST We need to determine whether the extreme value is a maximum or a minimum. This information can be obtained through the use of the second derivative test (or second-order condition). The test states that (1) The function y = f(x) reaches a local maximum at some point x = x0 if f(x0) = 0 and f(x0) is negative. (2) Similarly, f(x) reaches a local minimum at some point x0 if f(x0) = 0 and f(x0) is positive. (3) The function reaches an inflection point rather than a local maximum or minimum at x = x0 if both first and second derivatives are 0, i.e., f(x0) = 0 and f(x0) = 0. An example of the function with no local maximum or local minimum) is y = f(x) = x3. EXAMPLE 3 Recall from Example 1: TR = 500 + 22x 0.05x2. dTR/dx = 22 0.10x = 0 We set the first derivative equal to zero and solve for x, as follows: 22 0.10x = 0
0.10x = 22 x = 220.
Note that d2TR/dx2 = -0.1. Since the second derivative is negative, the extreme value of the function (x* = 220) is a maximum.
Substituting x* = 220 for x in the original function we get for the maximum revenue the following:
500 + 22(220) 0.05(220)2 = 500 + 4,840 0.05(48,400) = $1,920
EXAMPLE 4 Given y = f(x) = x3 - 12x2 + 36x + 18 To get the critical value we take the first derivative and set it equal to 0. dy/dx = f(x) = 3x2 - 24x + 36 = 0 = (3x - 18)(x - 2) = 0, which indicates there are two roots in this quadratic equation. The dual roots are: (3x - 18) = 0 and (x - 2) = 0; therefore, x1 = 6 and x2 = 2. To determine if they are maximum or minimum points, we need to do the second derivative test, as follows: d2y/dx2 = f(x)= 6x - 24 At x1 = 6, f(x)= 6(6) - 24 = 8 > 0, it is a minimum. At x2 = 2, f(x)= 6(2) - 24 = -12 <0, it is a maximum.
NOTE: Maximum Minimum First Derivative Test f(x0) = 0 f(x0) = 0 Second Derivative Test f(x0) < 0 f(x0) > 0
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES AND MULTIVARIATE OPTIMIZATION Many functions involve multiple independent variables. It is useful to understand the concept of multivariate optimization, the process of optimization for equations with multiple decision variables. Total direct labor cost in a manufacturing firm may be used to illustrate a function of two independent variables, namely (1) the number of direct labor hours worked and (2) the hourly wage rate. As a result, multivariate optimization is employed in the process of optimization. The process involves partial differentiation. Quite often, we wish to know the individual effect that a change in one independent variable (while the other (s) are held constant) will have on the dependent variable. The process is called partial differentiation. This designation refers to the fact that the function is differentiated relative to only a part (specifically, one) of the group of independent variables. The result is called the partial derivative denoted with , instead of d.
NOTE: The rules for partial differentiation are the same with the added stipulation that the independent variables not involved in the differentiation are treated as constants. EXAMPLE 5 To illustrate, suppose the sales revenue function is TR = 2x2y2z., where x = advertising expense in the prior period, y = salespersons travel expense in the prior period, and z = units sold by competitors during the current period. Suppose management needs to know the maximum extent to which revenue is generated by x (advertising expense in the prior period). The procedure for finding the extreme value is as follows: (1) differentiate partially relative to the variable of interest, (2) set the partial derivative equal to zero and solve for the variable of interest, and (3) evaluate the original function at this value to determine the extreme. Viewing y and z as constants, the full coefficient of x2 is 2y2z. The partial derivative with respect to x, the variable of interest in this example is
TR/x = 4xy2z.
Setting the partial derivative equal to zero and solving for x gives the following: 4y2zx = 0 x = 0. Thus the revenue function assumes its extreme value when x = 0. In order to interpret this result, it will be helpful to determine whether the extreme is a maximum or a minimum. As explained earlier, the sign of the second derivative (the second partial derivative in the multivariate case) determines this. The second partial derivative is determined as follows: 2TR/ x2 = 4y2z. Since the second partial derivative is positive, the extreme value of the function is minimal. The fact that the extreme value of the function results when x = 0 may be interpreted to mean that zero advertising expense in the prior period results in the lowest possible contribution of advertising to sales revenue. Furthermore it is implied that the contribution of advertising expense to sales revenue next period will continue to increase as long as advertising expense continues to increase. This indicates that the firms advertising expense does have a positive effect on revenue. (Recall that the partial derivative procedure assumes that y and z remain constant, so no inferences are drawn concerning the effect of changes in these variables on the revenue function.)
PROFIT MAXIMIZATION The goal of a firm is to maximize its profit. The economic theory suggests that business decisions should be made and actions taken only when marginal revenues exceed marginal costs. If this condition exists, a given decision should maximize the firm's profits. To find the profit-maximizing output, we should use differential calculus. EXAMPLE 6 Consider the following total revenue (TR) and total cost (TC) functions: TR(Q) = $1,000Q - $5Q2 and TC(Q) = $20,000 + $200Q. The profit function () then is:
(Q) = TR(Q) -TC(Q) = $1,000Q - $5Q2 - ($20,000 + $200Q) = $1,000Q - $5Q2 - $20,000 -$200Q = -$20,000 + $800Q - $5Q2
Taking d/dQ = 0 and solve for Q yields Q* = 80 units, as follows: d/dQ = $800 - $10Q = 0; Q* = 80 units An evaluation of the second derivative of the profit function is d2/dQ2 = -10 < 0 , which indicates Q* = 80 is a point of profit maximization. Figure 3 presents a graph of (a) the hypothetical total revenue, total cost, and profit functions, and (b) the marginal revenue, marginal cost, and marginal profit functions.
FIGURE 4 TOTAL REVENUE, TOTAL COST, MARGINAL REVENUE, MARGINAL COST, AND PROFIT MAXIMIZATION
CONSTRAINED OPTIMIZATION Many firms face restrictions imposed on their decision variables. Examples are the limitations imposed by the amount of resources (such as money, facilities, capacity, materials, and personnel) available to the firm. Constrained optimization is maximization of profits with the restrictions imposed on the availability of resources, or minimization of costs with minimum requirements needed to be satisfied. Techniques such as the Lagrangean multiplier method and linear programming (to be discussed in Chapter 7) are used for this purpose. The general problem is that of finding the extreme points of the function f(x, y) subject to equalities of the form g(x, y) = 0. When the constraints take the form of equalities, classical optimization procedures can be used to find an optimal solution. Two methods can be used: (1) The substitution method and (2) The Lagrangean multiplier method. THE SUBSTITUTION METHOD The substitution method can be used when the objective function is subject to only Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 28
one constraint equality of a relatively simply nature. By substitution, we reduce the dimension of our objective function. It involves two steps: (1) solve the equation for one of the decision variables and then (2) substitute this expression into the objective function. The procedure transforms the original problem into an unconstrained optimization problem so that the differential calculus can be applied to obtain the optimal solution. EXAMPLE 7 Suppose a firm produces its product on two assembly lines and operates with the total cost function, TC(x, y) = 3x2 + 6y2 - xy, where x = the output produced on one assembly line and y = the output produced on a second assembly line. Management seeks to determine the least-cost combination of x and y, subject to the constraint that total output of the product must be 20 units. The constrained optimization problem can be stated as follows: Minimize TC(x, y) = Subject to: 3x2 + 6y2 - xy x + y = 20
First, solve the constraint equation for x, yielding x = 20 - y and plug it into the objective function. TC(x, y) = T(y) = 3(20 - y)2 + 6y2 - (20 - y)y = 3(400 -40y + y2) + 6y2 -20y +y2 1,200-120y+3y2+ 6y2 -20y +y2 = 1,200 - 140y + 10y2 Taking the derivative of this reduced objective function and setting it equal to zero, we obtain: dTC/dy = -140 + 20y = 0 y = 7 units In turn solving for x yields: x = 20 - y = 20 - 7 = 13 units. Thus x = 13 and y = 7 is the optimal solution to the constrained cost-minimization problem. NOTE: The limitation of the substitution method is that it works only when there is one constraint equation and its is possible to solve this equation for one of the decision variables. With more than one constraint equation and/or a complicated constraint structure, the Lagrangean multiplier method must be employed.
LAGRANGEAN MULTIPLIER TECHNIQUE A method of solving constrained optimization problems in which the constraint (in a form in which it will equal to zero when it is satisfied) is added to the original objective function. A new, augmented objective function is called Lagrangean function, which constitutes an unconstrained optimization problem. The function is of the form: L(x, y, ) = f(x, y) + g(x, y) The coefficient of the constraining equation g(x, y), (read as lambda), is termed the Lagrangean multiplier. Since the constraining equation is equal to 0, the addition of the term g(x, y) to the objective function f(x, y) does not change the value of the function. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 29
This artificial variable measures the marginal change in the value of the objective function resulting from a one-unit change in the value of the constraint. The Lagrangean method works when (1) substitution is impractical, and (2) there exist many constraints. Further, it provides interesting economic information. The method is illustrated using the earlier example. EXAMPLE 8 Form Example 7, our constraint was x + y = 20. First, it should be rearranged so as to form an expression equal to zero, g(x, y) = 0. That means the constraint x + y = 20 is transformed to the expression 20 - x y = 0. Next, we define an artificial variable and form the Lagrangean Function (L): L(x, y, ) = TC(x, y) + g(x, y) = 3x2 + 6y2 - xy + (20 - x - y) Note that 1. As long as g(x, y) is maintained equal to zero, the Lagrangean Function L(x, y, ) will not differ in value from the original total cost function TC(x, y). Minimizing L(x, y, ) will also minimize TC(x, y). 2. Taking the partial derivative with respect to and setting that equal to zero gives you the original constraint. Since L(x, y, ) is a function of three decision variables, in order to minimize this function, we need to: 1. Partially differentiate it with respect to each of the variables; 2. Set the partial derivatives equal to zero; and 3. Solve the resulting set of equations for the optimal values of x, y, and . The partial derivatives are: L(x, y, )/x = 6x - y - = 0 L(x, y, )/y = 12y - x - = 0 L(x, y, )/ = 20 - x - y = 0 Solving three partial derivative equations simultaneously, we obtain x= 13, y =7, and = 71.
measures the marginal change in the value of the objective function due to a one-unit change in the value of the constraint. In this example, =71 indicates the costs would be increased by $71 if one more unit of output is produced; that is, an increase from 20 units to 21.
NOTE: If a constrained optimization problem has more than one constraint, then a separate is defined for each constraint and incorporated into the Lagrangean Function. The values are analogous to the dual variables of linear programming (LP) and represent the shadow prices of scarce resources. MARGINAL ANALYSIS VERSUS INCREMENTAL ANALYSIS Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 30
Marginal analysis relates to an additional unit of output. Managers at any level who have to make their functional (such as marketing, operational, production, purchasing, financing, investment, personnel, and so on) decisions must always weigh the marginal cost to be incurred against the marginal revenue to be derived from that decision. Many managerial decisions, however, involve a consideration of changes that are much broader in scope. For example, management may wish to investigate the impact on profits of a 20 percent increase in sales or an introduction of a new product line. Incremental analysis is frequently used in the practical equivalent of marginal analysis. It relates to a specified managerial decision which can involve a choice between two discrete quantities of output (e.g., 10,000 units vs. 15,000 units). It is the process of examining the impact of alternative choice decisions on revenue, cost, or profit. It focuses attention on changes or differences between alternatives. Managers will have to weigh the incremental cost associated with the decision against the incremental revenue. For this reason, marginal analysis is more appropriately called incremental analysis. QUESTIONS 1. Define the term optimization 2. Discuss briefly the first and second derivative tests. 3. What is constrained optimization? Give two popular techniques that deal with constrained optimization. 4. Define Lagrangean multiplier. What is it analogous to in linear programming? 5. What is the derivative? What does it try to measure? 6. Distinguish between marginal analysis and incremental analysis. PROBLEMS 1. ABC Boutique offers all its merchandise for sale at $20 per unit. The total cost of producing Q units is given by TC = 40 + 4Q + .2Q2. How many units must be produced to maximize profit? What is the maximum profit at this level? 2. Find the maximum point on the function y = 75x - 0.25x2. Prove that this is a maximum, not a minimum by evaluating the second derivative at the X value. 3. Find the maxima and minima points on the function y = 1,500 - 600x - 15x2 + x3, and evaluate the second derivative to differentiate between them. 4. Your firm's economic analysis department has estimated your total revenues to be TR(Q)=3,200Q - 6Q2 and your total costs to be TC(Q) = 90 + 2Q2 (a) What level of Q maximizes profits? (b) What is marginal revenue at this level of Q? (c) What is marginal cost at this level of Q? (d) What is the maximum level of profits? 5. Jon Electronics operates with the following total revenue (TR) and total cost (TC) functions: TR = $200Q - $0.5Q2 and TC = $1,000 - $40Q + $0.5Q2 (a) Determine the revenue maximizing Q (the quantity of output). (b) Determine the cost minimizing Q. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 31
(c) Determine the profit maximizing Q. (d) Prove that marginal revenue (MR) equals marginal cost (MC) at the profit maximizing Q. 6. The purpose of inventory planning is to develop policies which will achieve an optimal investment in inventory. This objective is achieved by determining the optimal level of inventory necessary to minimize inventory related costs. Annual total inventory costs (TIC) are the sum of carrying cost + ordering cost, i.e., TIC = C (Q/2) + S (D/Q), where C = carrying cost per unit, S = ordering cost per order, D = annual demand (requirements) in units, and Q = order quantity. Develop a formula for determining the economic order quantity Q* (EOQ) by minimizing the TIC. 7. Using the Lagrangean Multiplier method, find the extreme point. Maximize z = xy Subject to x+y=6 8. A firm has the following profit function in which the profit variable Z is a function of the output level of two products x and y: Z = -60 + 140x + 100y - 10 x2 - 8y2 - 6xy. Assume that the firm has the raw materials in short supply, having only 200 units. Products x and y require 20 units and 40 units of the raw materials to produce one unit of output. The firm wishes to determine the profit-maximizing mix of products. (a) Formulate the problem as a constrained optimization format. (b) Use the substitution method to determine the quantities of x and y that will maximize profit (Z). (c) Use the Lagrangean Multiplier method to do the same. (d) Give an economic interpretation of the value of obtained in part (c). ANSWERS 1. Optimization is the maximization or minimization of a specific objective (i.e., profit or costs). 2. The first derivative test is a test to locate one or more extreme (maximum or minimum) points on a function, while the second derivative test is a test to determine whether an extreme point is either a maximum or a minimum point. 3. Constrained optimization is optimization with the restrictions imposed on the availability of resources and other requirements. Techniques such as linear programming (LP) and the Lagrangean multipliers are used to attack this type of problem. 4. The Lagrangean multiplier measures the marginal change in the value of the objective function resulting from a one-unit change in the value on the right-hand side of the equality sign in the constraint. This is analogous to the dual variables of linear programming and represent the shadow price of a given scarce resource. 5. The derivative dy/dx measures the marginal change in y associated with a very small change in x. It is basically the slope of a function. 6. Marginal analysis relates to a single unit of output, while incremental analysis relates to a specified managerial decision which can involve a choice between two discrete quantities of output (e.g., 10,000 units vs. 15,000 units). Incremental analysis is frequently used as the practical equivalent of marginal analysis.
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS 1. Total profit () = total revenue(TR) - total cost(TC) = $20Q - (40 + 4Q + .02Q2) = -40 + 16Q - .02Q2
Taking the derivative with respect to Q and setting it equal to zero, we obtain d/dQ = 16 - .4Q = 0, Solving for Q yields Q* = 40. The maximum profit at Q* = 40 is: * = -40 + 16Q - .02Q2 = -40 + 16(40) - .02(40)2 = 568. 2. Set dy/dx = 0: dy/dx = 75 - 0.5x =0; x = 150. Since d2y/dx2= - 0.5 < 0, at x = 150 a maxima has been located. 3. Set dy/dx = 0 to locate all maxima and minima. dy/dx =-600 - 30x + 3x2 = 0 or (3x + 30)(x - 20) = 0 the dual solutions are x = -10; x = 20. Taking the second derivative yields d2y/dx2 = -30 + 6x At x = -10, d2y/dx2 = -30 + 6x = -30 + 6(-10) = -90 < 0 (maxima) At x = 20, d2y/dx2 = -30 + 6x = -30 + 6(20) = 90 > 0 (minima) 4. (a) Given: TR(Q)=3,200Q - 6Q2 and TC(Q) = 90 + 2Q2 The marginal revenue (MR) and marginal cost (MC) are as follows: MR = dTR/dQ = 3,200 -12Q and MC = dTC/dQ = 4Q At the profit-maximizing output level, MR = MC; thus MR = 3,200 - $12Q = 4Q = MC Solving for Q gives Q* = 200 units, which is the profit-maximizing quantity of output. (b) MR = 3,200 -12Q = 3,200 - 12(200) = 800 (c) MC = 4Q = 4(200) = 800 (e) Profits = TR - TC =3,200Q - 6Q2-(90 + 2Q2)= -90 + 3,200Q -8Q2. When Q*=200, profits are -90 + 3,200(200) - 8(200)2 = $319,910 5. (a) Set dTR/dQ = $200 - Q = 0; Q = 200 (b) Set dTC/dQ = -$40 + Q = 0; Q = 40 (c) Total profit () = TR - TC = $200Q - $0.5Q2 - ($1,000 - $40Q + $0.5Q2) = -$1,000 + $240Q - Q2 Set d/dQ = $240 -2Q = 0; Q =120 (d) At Q*=120, we Note: MR = dTR/dQ = $200 - Q = $200 - 120 = $80 MC = dTC/dQ = -$40 + Q = -$40 + 120 = $80 So, MR = MC = $80 6. Given TIC = C (Q/2) + S (D/Q), taking the derivative of TIC with respect to Q and setting Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 33
it equal to zero yields: dTIC/dQ = C/2 - SDQ-2 = 0 ----> Q2 = 2SD/C ----> Q* = EOQ = 7. The Lagrangean function is: L(x, y, ) = xy + (6 - x - y) Taking the partial derivative with respect to x, y, and , we get: L/x = y - = 0 L/y = x - = 0 L/= 6 - x - y = 0 Solving them simultaneously, we obtain: x = 3, y = 3, and = 3.
2 SD / C
8. (a) The formulation is: Maximize Z = -60 + 140x + 100y - 10x2 - 8y2 - 6xy. Subject to 20x + 40y = 200 (b) Solve for x in terms of y and substitute in Z yields: 20x + 40y = 200 ----> x = 200/20 - 40y/20 = 10 - 2y Z =-60 + 140x + 100y - 10 x2 - 8y2 - 6xy = -60 + 140(10 -2y) + 100y - 10(10 - 2y)2 - 8y2 - 6(10 - 2y)y = 340 + 160y - 36y2 Using the first order condition for an extreme, we find dQ/dK and set it equal to zero we get: dQ/dK =160 - 72y = 0, which means y =2.22 units and x = 10 - 2y =10 - 2(2.22) =5.56 units (c) The Lagrangean Function is: L(x, y, ) = -60 + 140x + 100y - 10x2 - 8y2 - 6xy + (200 - 20x - 40y) Using the partial derivatives, we obtain: L/x = 140 - 20x - 6y + 20 = 0 L/y = 100 -16x -6y + 40 = 0 L/ = 200 - 20x - 40y = 0 Solving these three equations simultaneously, we find x = 5.56, y =2.22, and =.774 (d) =.774 means that profits can be increased by $.774 if one additional unit of raw material were available; that is, an increase from 200 units to 201 units.
CHAPTER 2 QUIZ 1. MC equals the derivative of the total cost function. TRUE / FALSE 2. Which of the following is used in determining the economic order quantity (EOQ)? A. Regression analysis. B. Calculus. C. Markov process. D. Queuing theory. 3. What process is used when calculus is employed to determine a firm's maximum profit for a given revenue function? A. Integration. B. Differentiation. C. Operations research. D. Regression analysis. 4. A marketing department developed the formula, Total marketing cost (TC) = a + bX + cX2, with X equaling marketing resources. The director wanted to minimize TC with respect to X. The appropriate technique to use is A. Linear programming. B. Least squares. C. Differential calculus. D. Integral calculus. 5. To find a minimum-cost point given a total-cost equation, the initial steps are to find the first derivative, set it equal to zero, and solve the equation. Using the solution(s) so derived, what additional steps must be taken, and what result indicates a minimum? A. Substitute the solution(s) in the first derivative equation; a positive solution indicates a minimum. B. Substitute the solution(s) in the first derivative equation; a negative solution indicates a minimum. C. Substitute the solution(s) in the second derivative equation; a positive solution indicates a minimum. D. Substitute the solution(s) in the second derivative equation; a negative solution indicates a minimum.
CHAPTER 2 ANSWER KEY 1. (T) is correct Marginal cost (MC) is the incremental cost incurred to produce one additional unit of output. The derivative of the total cost function is the change in total cost per unit change in output quantity. Accordingly, it is the same as MC. MC increases or decreases as the derivative (slope) of the total cost function increases or decreases. (F) is incorrect. MC may increase or decrease as total cost increases. Whether it increases or decreases depends on whether the derivative of the total cost function increases or decreases. 2. (B) is correct. The primary business application of differential calculus is to identify the maxima or minima of curvilinear functions. In business and economics, these are the points of revenue or profit maximization (maxima) or cost minimization (minima). The EOQ results from differentiating the total cost with regard to order quantity. (A) is incorrect. Regression analysis is used o fit a linear trend line to a dependent variable based on one or more independent variables. (C) is incorrect. Markov process models are used to study the evolution of certain systems over repeated trials. (D) is incorrect. Queuing theory is a waiting-line technique used to balance desirable service levels against the cost of providing more service. 3. (B) is correct. Differential calculus is used to identify the maxima or minima of nonlinear functions. The derivative of a function measures the slope or rate of change of that function. Maxima or minima occur where the slope is equal to zero. A maximum exists when the second derivative of the function is negative. (A) is incorrect. Integral calculus computes the area under a curve. It finds anti-derivatives; the first derivative of the integral is the function that was integrated. (C) is incorrect. Operations research is a broad term for the application of scientific and quantitative methods to the understanding of systems, especially human-machine systems used in business. (D) is incorrect. Regression analysis creates an equation to explain the variation in a dependent variable caused by changes in one or more independent variables. 4. (C) is correct. Differential calculus identifies the maxima or minima of curvilinear functions. These points occur where the slope is zero. A minimum exists when the second derivative of the function is positive. (A) is incorrect. The formula is nonlinear with no stated constraints. (B) is incorrect. Least squares is related to regression analysis. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 36
(D) is incorrect. Integral calculus concerns areas and volume. 5. (C) is correct. The steps in differential calculus are to (1) calculate the first derivative, (2) set the first derivative equal to zero and solve the equation, and (3) calculate the second derivative to determine whether it is positive or negative. If the second derivative is positive, it is a minimum. If the second derivative is negative, it is a maximum. The second derivative of a function is the derivative of the first derivative of a function. (A) is incorrect. The substitution must be in the second derivative. (B) is incorrect. The substitution in the second derivative will test for maximum or minimum. (D) is incorrect. A negative solution indicates a maximum.
CHAPTER 3 MARKET FORCES: DEMAND AND SUPPLY LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. Define the demand function. 2. Demonstrate the demand schedule. 3. Construct and explain the demand curve. 4. Identify demand shifters. 5. Compute the average revenue. 6. Clarify the concept of marginal revenue. 7. Explain and give examples of the linear demand function. 8. Calculate and explain the point price elasticity concept. 9. Understand and discuss arc elasticity. 10. Compute the income elasticity. 11. Determine and give an example of advertising elasticity. 12. Explain the concept of constant elasticity. 13. Define and give examples of substitute goods. 14. Illustrate the uses and benefits of complementary goods. 15. Define and give examples of normal goods. 16. Identify and expose inferior goods. 17. Compute the optimal price. 18. Picture graphically the concept of supply. 19. Identify supply shifters. Demand analysis is useful in forecasting sales, setting prices, and long range profit planning. Demand analysis includes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Quantitative expression demand --specification of demand functions Calculation of various elasticities of demand Estimation of demand functions Forecasting sales Pricing decisions
We cover the first two topics in this chapter. The other topics are discussed in later chapters. DEMAND FUNCTION Economic theory tells us that demand for a particular product depends on its price, i.e., Qd = f(P)
Economic theory goes one step further, stating that Qd = f (P, PC, Y, A,...) Where P = its own price, PC = the prices of substitutes and complementary goods , Y = income, A = advertising. Demand function is a mathematical relationship showing how the quantity demanded of a good or service responds to changes in these factors. Explanatory factors other than its own price are called demand shifters. The effect of each explanatory factor on the quantity demanded may be estimated statistically with time-series or cross-sectional data. DEMAND SCHEDULE Demand schedule is a table or tabular representation of the quantity demanded at various possible prices during a given time period, all other things remaining equal. The data from a demand schedule can be used to construct a demand curve. DEMAND CURVE Demand curve is a graph of a demand schedule, showing the negative relationship between price and quantity demanded during a period of time, all other things remaining the same. Price is on the vertical axis and quantity demanded is on the horizontal axis. Notice that the change in demand from point A to B is due to a change in price. The change in demand from point A to C is not due to price, but a shift in demand. SHIFT IN DEMAND Market shifters create increase or decrease in demand for a good brought about by a change in any factor other than the price of the product. These factors include (1) consumers' incomes, (2) the prices of substitute or complementary goods, and (3) consumers' tastes. Graphically, a shift in demand may be represented by a parallel movement of the demand curve.
FIGURE 1 DEMAND CURVE AND DEMAND SHIFTERS
MARKET DEMAND CURVE The market demand curve for a product represents the various amounts that consumers as a group are willing and able to purchase at various alternative prices at a specific moment in time when other factors influencing consumer behavior are held constant. Thus, the market demand curve isolates the relationship between price and the quantity demanded by all consumers. It is found by summing the quantities of a good that each consumer is willing and able to purchase at each and every alternative price. DEMAND AND REVENUE The total revenue of a firm is directly related to the demand for the firms product or service. Total revenue (TR) is a function of price and quantity demanded, i.e., TR = f (P, Q) = P x Q For example, if P = 500 - .02Q, then TR = PQ = (500 - .2Q)Q = 500Q - .02Q2 AVERAGE REVENUE Average revenue (AR) is total revenue per unit of output, that is total revenue received divided by output., i.e., AR = TR/Q = (500Q - .02Q2)/Q = 500 - .02Q MARGINAL REVENUE Marginal revenue is the rate of change of total revenue with respect to quantity demanded, i.e., MR = dTR/dQ = d(P x Q)/dQ = 500 - .04Q
FIGURE 2 AVERAGE REVENUE, MARGINAL REVENUE, AND TOTAL REVENUE
ELASTICITY OF DEMAND Whether price cutting or an increase in advertising dollars is desirable or not depends largely on the elasticity of demand for the product. One of the most important concepts in demand is elasticity which tells you how sensitive quantity demanded is to the change in a factor in the demand function. The principal factors involved with demand elasticity are: 1. 2. 3. 4. The price of the good (in the case of price elasticity) The price of a substitute-product (in the case of cross elasticity) Income (in the case of income elasticity) Advertising (in the case of advertising elasticity)
PRICE ELASTICITY Price elasticity, denoted with ep, is the ratio of a percentage change in quantity demanded (Q) to a percentage change in price (p), as stated as a positive term. We Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 41
classify the price elasticity of demand into three categories:
Price elasticity of demand ep>1 ep=1 ep<1
Degree of elasticity Elastic Unitary Inelastic
There are two types of price elasticity: (1) arc elasticity and (2) point elasticity. 1. Arc Elasticity Arc elasticity of demand is the average responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price between two different values: ep = (Q2 - Q1)/[(Q2 + Q1)/2] ----------------------(P2 - P1)/[(P2 + P1)/2] = (Q2 - Q1) ---------(P2 - P1) x (P2 + P1) ---------(Q2 + Q1)
where P1, and Q1 are the original price and quantity, and P2 and Q2 are the new price and quantity. In other words, changes in Q and P are calculated as percentages of the average of their respective original and final values. This approach eliminates the problem of the elasticity measure being dependent on which end of the range is viewed as the initial point and results in a more accurate measure of the average relative relationship between the two variables over the range indicated by the data. EXAMPLE 1 Given the following: P $.60 .50 (800,000 400,000) ep = x --------------------(.5 - -6) (.6 + .5) --------------------(800,000 + 400,000) =
Q 400,000 800,000 400,00 0 ---------.1 1.10 x --------1,200,0 00 = -.3.667
NOTE: A negative sign is expected, so the absolute value expression |ep| is widely adopted in texts. 2. Point Elasticity Point elasticity is the elasticity measured at a given point. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 42
ep =
% change in Q --------------= % change in P
dQ/Q ------dP/P
dQ --dP
p ---Q
Where dQ/dP is the slope of the demand function Q = (P). EXAMPLE 2 The demand function is given as Q = 200 - 6P. The price elasticity at P=4 is computed as follows: First, Q = 200 - 6(4) = 176 Since dQ/dP = -6, the ep at P = 4 is: ep= -6 x (4/176) = -0.136 Which means that a 1 percent change in price will bring about a 0.14% change in demand. The product under study is considered price inelastic, since the ep is less than 1 in absolute value. TWO EXTREME CASES OF PRICE ELASTICITY There are two extreme cases: (1) ep = 0 and (2) ep = . If ep = 0, then the price elasticity of demand is completely inelastic and the quantity demanded will not change in response to change in price. The demand curve in this case is a vertical line, as in Figure 3, panel (a). If ep = , then the price elasticity of demand is infinitely elastic and a firm can sell as many units of its product as it wants to at the going market price, but it will lose all of its sales at a higher price. In this case the demand curve is a horizontal line as seen in Figure 3, panel (b). These cases, however, are very rare in reality. The demand for some products, such as table salt, over at least some price ranges may be highly inelastic. Further, we may relate the horizontal demand curve with the purely competitive firm. LINEAR DEMAND CURVE AND NON-CONSTANT PRICE ELASTICITY The information on price elasticity is useful to see the effect of a change in price on sales. However, you should be careful to know the price elasticity in each price range, since elasticity is not constant along the demand curve. EXAMPLE 3 We are given the following demand function: P = 10 - 2Q or Q = 5 - .5P In the case of a linear demand function (See Figure 4), while the slope of a straight line demand curve is the same at all points, the elasticity for such a curve varies from one point to the next. The reason for this is that in the ep formula 1. dQ/ dP would be constant, but 2. P/Q would fall in the case of a move down and to the right. TOTAL REVENUE AND PRICE ELASTICITY Economists have established the following relationships between price elasticity (ep) and total revenue (TR), which can aid a firm in setting its price. Price Price rises Price falls ep > 1 TR falls TR rises ep = 1 No change No change ep < 1 TR rises TR falls
EXAMPLE 4 In Example 3, we note that TR = PQ = (10 - 2Q)Q = 10Q - 2Q2 and hence MR = 10 -4Q. Figure 5 shows the relationship between TR, price elasticity, and marginal revenue. 1. Price elasticities can be used to answer the following types of questions: (a) What will be the impact on sales of a 5% price increase? (b) How great a price reduction is necessary to increase sales by 20%? 2. Firms need to be aware of the elasticity of their own demand curves when they set product prices. For example, a profit maximizing firm would never choose to lower its price in the inelastic range of its demand curve--such a price decrease would only decrease total sales and at the same time increase costs, since output would be rising. The result would be a drastic decrease in profits. In fact, when costs are rising and the product is inelastic, the firm would have no difficulty passing on the increases by raising the price to the customer. 3. When there are many substitutes and demand is quite elastic, increasing prices may lead to a reduction in total revenue rather than an increase. The result may be lower profits rather than higher profits. a) Similarly, managers are sometimes surprised by a lack of success of price reductions, this merely being a reflection of the fact that demand is relatively inelastic. In such a case, they may have to rely on other marketing efforts such as advertising and sales promotion in an attempt to increase market share.
FIGURE 3 TWO EXTREME CASES OF PRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND
FIGURE 4 LINEAR DEMAND CURVE AND NON-CONSTANT PRICE ELASTICITY
FIGURE 5 TOTAL REVENUE, PRICE ELASTICITY, AND MARGINAL REVENUE
NOTE: Various elasticity measures will allow marketing managers to see how effective each of the demand determinants (i.e., advertising, price change, and external factors) is going to be. In this way marketing resources may be utilized more profitably and efficiently.
CROSS ELASTICITY OF DEMAND Cross elasticity of demand is the responsiveness for one product to changes in the price of some other product, holding all other factors constant. It measures the closeness of substitutes or the degree of complementality of demand. It is computed as e pX = % change in Q ----------------% change in PX = dQ/Q ------dPX/PX = dQ --dPX x PX ---Q
1. If e pX > 0, goods are substitutes. A high cross elasticity means that the commodities are close substitutes (e.g., coffee and tea). 2. If e pX < 0, goods are complements. (e.g., high-fidelity components and CDs) 3. If e pX = 0, goods are independent of each other. INCOME ELASTICITY OF DEMAND Income elasticity of demand is the responsiveness of quantity demanded to changes in income, holding all other factors constant. It is computed as % change in Q --------------= % change in Y dQ/Q ------dY/Y dQ --dY Y ---Q
eY =
If e Y > 0, products are normal or superior goods whose demand varies directly with income, holding prices constant. A majority of consumer goods are superior goods. If e Y < 0, products are inferior goods. Demand will drop with rising personal income, since, for example, people turn to more expensive foods with higher income. Examples of inferior goods include dried beans, recapped automobile tires, and budget-priced durable goods. ADVERTISING ELASTICITY OF DEMAND Advertising elasticity of demand is the percentage change in the quantity sold (or market share) that is associated with a percentage change in the advertising expenditures of that product. eA = % change in Q --------------= % change in A dQ/Q ------dA/A = dQ --dA x A ---Q
It is used as a measure of short-run advertising effectiveness. This elasticity may be affected by a number of factors such as the stage of the product's market development, the extent to which competitors react to the firm's advertising, either by further advertising or by increased promotional efforts, the importance of other marketing factors (e.g., prices, incomes, tastes, etc.), and the quality and quantity of the firm's past and present advertising. MARKET SHARE ELASTICITY It is the percentage change in a firm's market share resulting from a percentage change in the price. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 48
CONSTANT ELASTICITY The second most commonly specified demand relationship is the multiplicative form, which gives constant elasticity. The form is found in power functions. An example is: Q = aPbAcYd Where P = price, A = advertising, and Y = income. By definition, % change in Q --------------= % change in p
Q ------P
(1)
ep =
P -----Q
(2)
Differentiating equation (1) with respect to price (P), we obtain

Q ------ = abPb-1AcYd P
Therefore, e p = abPb-1AcYd .(P/Q) Substituting (1) for Q in (3) gives: e p = abPb-1AcYd .(P/ aPbAcYd)
(3)
(4)
Combining terms and canceling where possible in equation (4), we obtain ep = abPbAcYd -----------------------P . P --------------------aPbAcYd =b
Thus, the price elasticity of demand is equal to b(whose usual sign is negative), the exponent of the price variable in the multiplicative demand function given as in equation (1). Therefore, the elasticity is not a function of the price/quantity (P/Q) ratio and hence is constant. In a similar fashion, we can prove that (1) the income elasticity is c, and (2) the advertising elasticity is d. NOTE: The power function form can be transformed into a log-linear form using logarithm and then estimated by the least-squares method. Equation (1) is equivalent to log Q = log a + b log P + c log A + d log Y The property of constant elasticity is useful, since it means that changes in one of the independent variables, such as income, will result in proportionate changes in quantity Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 49
demanded. Note that the elasticity of a linear function changes over the entire range of the demand curve. EXAMPLE 5 Given the demand function in multiplicative form: Q = 2077P-.144PX.097A.314 The price elasticity is always -.144, which means that a 1% reduction (increase) in price leads to .14% increase (decrease) in demand. OPTIMAL PRICING POLICY AND PRICE ELASTICITY We note, without a mathematical derivation, the relationship between the point price elasticity of demand, marginal revenue, and price: MR = P (Note that ep is a negative number.) This follows directly from the mathematical definition of marginal revenue (MR). This formula is useful in setting a firms pricing policy. From the profit-maximizing condition MR = MC, we can derive the formula for determining the profit-maximizing price level, which is shown below. MC = MR 1 1 + ---------ep 1 1 + ---ep
MC = P
Solving for the optimal or profit-maximizing P*, yields MC -------------------1 1 + ---ep
P* =
EXAMPLE 6 Suppose the manager of a toy store notes a 2.5% increase in weekly sales following a 1% price discount on the Bamboo doll. The stores wholesale cost per doll plus display and marketing expenses total $30 per unit. The price elasticity of demand is: ep = % change in Q --------------= % change in p -2.5 ----1 = -2.5
The profit-maximizing price is then: P = $30/(1 + 1/-2.5) = $50 Suppose the manager can reduce, through quantity buying, marginal costs per unit by $3 to $27. Then the new optimal price is: P = $27/(1 + 1/-2.5) = $45 Thus, the profit-maximizing price would fall by $5 following a $3 reduction in the stores marginal costs. SUPPLY FUNCTION Up to this point we focused on the demand side of the market which represents half of the forces that determine the price in a market. The other determinant is market supply. Economic theory tells us that supply for a particular product depends on its price, i.e., Qs = f(P) Economic theory goes one step further, stating that Qs = f (P, PX, W,...) Where P = its own price, PX = the prices of technologically related goods , W = the value of some other variables that affect supply, such as the existing technology or weather. Supply function is a mathematical relationship showing how the quantity supplied of a good or service responds to changes in these factors (See Figure 6). A competitive firm will produce at a level at which marginal cost equals marginal revenue (selling price). Thus, a change in input prices affects marginal cost and the quantity of output supplied. Explanatory factors other than its own price are called supply shifters. The effect of each explanatory factor on the quantity supplied may be estimated statistically with time-series or cross-sectional data. SHIFT IN SUPPLY A shift in the supply of a product is brought about by a change in any factor other than the price of the product. Graphically, a shift in supply is illustrated as a parallel movement of the supply curve. A rightward (leftward) shift or an increase (decrease) in supply implies that more (less) product is supplied than before the increase (decrease) at every price. Supply shifters include (1) input prices, (2) technology, (3) number of firms, (4) substitutes in production, and (5) excise taxes.
FIGURE 6 SUPPLY FUNCTION AND SUPPLY SHIFTERS
MARKET EQUILIBRIUM Equilibrium in a competitive market is determined by the intersection of the market demand and supply curves. Equilibrium price is the price of a commodity (good and service) toward which a competitive market will move and, once there, at which it will remain. It is the price at which the market "clears"--that is, the price determined by the intersection of the market forces of demand and supply (Figure 7). Equilibrium quantity is the quantity that corresponds to the equilibrium price. it is the output level at which the market "clears." Qd = Qs
FIGURE 7 MARKET EQUILIBRIUM
EXAMPLE 7 The following relations describe monthly demand and supply functions for dry cleaning services in the local area: Qd =50 - 2P (demand) Qs = -20 +5P (supply) The equilibrium price-output combination is determined as follows: At equilibrium, Qd = Qs 50 - 2P = -20 + 5P -7P = -70; P = $10 To find the equilibrium quantity, we simply plug this price into either the demand or the supply function. For example, using the supply function, we find that Qs = -20 +5P = -20 +5(10) = 30 units. QUESTIONS 1. What does demand theory and analysis involve? List what is used in determining a firms revenue. 2. What are demand shifters? Give examples. 3. Define total revenue, average revenue, and marginal revenue. Explain the relationships among these. 4. What are the factors associated with demand elasticity? 5. Distinguish between arc elasticity and point elasticity. 6. What is the special feature of a linear demand curve in terms of price elasticity? 7. Describe the relationship between price elasticity of demand and total revenue. 8. Give two good examples of how price elasticity can be used for marketing decisions. 9. How do you know whether a product is a normal good or an inferior good? 10. What type of function form would give constant elasticity of demand? Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 53
11. Write down the relationship between the point price elasticity of demand, marginal revenue, and price. PROBLEMS 1. A valve manufacturer is considering raising the price of its valves from the current average price of $2,000 per unit. It is currently selling 600 units per month, but trying to bring its sales down to its maximum output of 500 units per month. If the firms price elasticity of demand is -2 over the range of $2,000 to $2,500 per valve, what will the new price have to be in order to bring demand in line with capacity? 2. Lilex Watch, Inc. is considering lowering the price of its watches from the current $80 per unit to $70 per unit. It sells 2,000 units per month. If the watchs price elasticity of demand is -2, what will be the new quantity sold? 3. The Sunhee Bags, Inc. has estimated the following demand function for its deluxe sleeping bag in the San Francisco Bay area: P = 600 - .3Q (a) Determine the MR and TR functions. (b) At what price would Sunhee Bags fail to sell any sleeping bags? (c) What is the maximum quantity Sunhee Bags could sell? (d) What is the maximum revenue that the firm could receive? (e) For a given percentage change in price, what would be the percentage change in quantity demanded at the output level Q = 700? (f) What is the arc price elasticity of demand for the quantity range of 700-800 units? 4. Given the following demand curve: Q = 250 - .5P Determine the corresponding total revenue (TR) function, marginal revenue (MR) function, and the average revenue (AR) function. 5. Given the following demand curve: P = 400 - 3Q Determine the corresponding total revenue (TR) function, marginal revenue (MR) function, and the average revenue (AR) function. 6. The marketing department of a compact automaker has determined the following demand functions for their cars: Q = 150,000 -52P + 80PC + 0.3A + 0.5Y where Q = the number of the firms cars sold weekly P = the price of the firms car PC = the price of a close competitors car A = weekly advertising dollars spent Y = average family disposable income
(a) If P = $12,000, PC = $10,000, A = $310,000, and Y = $25,000, derive the demand function and determine the price elasticity of demand. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 54
(b) Comment on the price elasticity obtained in part (a). If the firm raises price, what will happen to total revenue? (c) Assuming the values given in part (a), calculate the income elasticity of demand. Interpret your answer. (d) Determine the cross elasticity of demand between two competing cars. Interpret your answer. 7. The demand for your product has been estimated to be QA = 8,500 - 4PA - 2PB + PC - .1Y, where P = price and Y = income. The relevant price and income data are as follows: PA = 10, PB = 50, PC = 50, and Y = 40,000. (a) Which goods are substitutes for product A? Which are complements? (b) Is A an inferior or a normal good? (c) How much A will be purchased? 8. (a) Derive the following formula:
MR = P
1 1 + ---ep
(b) Explain the relationship between marginal revenue (MR) and the price elasticity of demand (ep) 9. Suppose the manager of a toy store notes a 2% increase in weekly sales following a 1% price discount on the Bamboo doll. The stores wholesale cost per doll plus display and marketing expenses total $15 per unit. (a) What is the stores point price elasticity of demand? (b) Calculate the optimal price. (c) Suppose the manager can reduce, through quantity buying, marginal costs per unit by $1 to $14. What is the new optimal price? 10. Your companys food product has its own price elasticity of demand of -.8. If the price of food increased by 5 percent, what would happen to the quantity of food demanded and the total revenue for your companys food product?
11. The following relations describe monthly demand and supply functions for dry cleaning services in the local area:
Qd = 40,000 - 4,000P (demand) Qs = -10,000 + 10,000P (supply) Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 55
(a) At what average price level would demand equal zero? (b) At what average price level would supply equal zero? (c) Find the equilibrium price-output combination? ANSWERS 1. Demand analysis include (a) quantitative expression of demand (specification of demand functions), (b) calculation of various elasticities of demand, (c) estimation of demand functions, (d) forecasting sales, and (e) pricing decisions. 2. Demand shifters are factors that create increase or decrease in demand for a good brought about by a change in any factor other than the price of the product. They include (1) consumers' incomes, (2) the prices of substitute or complementary goods, and (3) consumers' tastes. Graphically, a shift in demand may be represented by a parallel movement of the demand curve. 3. Total revenue (TR) of a firm is directly related to the demand for the firms product or service. Average revenue (AR) is total revenue per unit of output, that is total revenue received divided by output., i.e., AR = TR/Q. Marginal revenue (MR) is the rate of change of total revenue with respect to quantity demanded, i.e., MR = dTR/dQ. The total revenue is maximized when MR is equal to zero. 4. The principal factors involved with demand elasticity are (1) the price of the good (in the case of price elasticity), (2) the price of a substitute product (in the case of cross elasticity), (3) income (in the case of income elasticity), and (4) advertising (in the case of advertising elasticity). 5. Arc elasticity of demand is the average responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price between two different values, while point elasticity is the elasticity measured at a given point. 6. In the case of a linear demand function, while the slope of a straight line demand curve is the same at all points, the elasticity for such a curve varies from one point to the next. 7. Economists have established the following relationships between price elasticity (ep) and total revenue (TR), which can aid a firm in setting its price. Price Price rises Price falls ep > 1 TR falls TR rises ep = 1 No change No change ep < 1 TR rises TR falls
8. Price elasticities can be used to answer the following types of questions: (a) what will be the impact on sales of a 5% price increase? (b) how great a price reduction is necessary to increase sales by 20%? 9. If income elasticity (eY) is greater than zero, products are normal or superior goods whose demand varies directly with income, holding prices constant. If e Y < 0, products are inferior goods. 10. The multiplicative form (or power function) gives constant elasticity. The form is found in power functions. An example is Q = aPbAcYd. 11. The relationship between the point price elasticity of demand, marginal revenue, and price is: 1 MR = P 1 + ---ep
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS 1. ep = (Q2 - Q1)/[(Q2 + Q1)/2] (P2 - P1)/[(P2 + P1)/2] = (Q2 - Q1) (P2 + P1) (P2 - P1) (Q2 + Q1)
-2 = [(500 - 600)/(P2 - 2000)][(P2 + 2000)/(500 + 600)] = -100(P2 + 2000)/1100/(P2 - 2000) -2(11P2 - 22000) = -P2 - 2000 -22P2 + 44000 = -P2 - 2000 -21P2 = -46000 P2 = $2190.48 2. -2 = [(Q2 - 2000)/( 70 - 80)][(70 + 80)/(Q2 + 2000)] -2 = 150(Q2 - 2000)/-10(Q2 + 2000) -2(-10Q2 - 20000) = 150Q2 - 300000 20Q2 + 40000 = 150Q2 - 300000 -130Q2 =-340000 Q2 = 2615.38 3. (a) Given P = 600 - .3Q: TR = PQ = (600 - .3Q)Q = 600Q - .3Q2 MR = dTR/dQ = 600 - .6Q (b) At P = $600, Q = 0 since P = 600 - .3(0) = $600. (c) P= 600 - .3Q, so Q = 2,000 - 10/3P At a price of 0, Q = 2,000 - 10/3(0) = 2,000 units. (d) TR will be maximized when MR = 0. MR = dTR/dQ = 600 - .6Q = 0; Q = 1,000 units. At Q = 1,000 units, TR = 600Q - .3Q2 = 600(1,000) - .3(1,000)2 = $300,000 (e) ep = % change in Q --------------= % change in P dQ/Q ------dP/P = dQ --dP x p ---Q
First, dQ --- = - 10/3 dP Then, at Q = 700, P = 390 e p = -(10/3) x (390/700) = -1.86. The point elasticity of demand is -1.86, so the percentage change in quantity demanded would be -1.86 times the percentage change in price. (f) Since P= 600 - .3Q, At Q = 700, P= 600 - .3(700) = $390 At Q = 800, P= 600 - .3(800) = $360 Therefore, Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 57
Arc elasticity of demand (Q2 - Q1) ---------(P2 - P1) 4. Q = 250 - .5P ----> .5P = 250 - Q ----> P = 500 - 2Q TR = P x Q = (500 - 2Q)Q = 500Q - 2Q2 MR = dTR/dQ = 500 -4Q AR = TR/Q = 500 - 2Q 5. TR = P x Q = (400 - 3Q)Q = 400Q - 3Q2 MR = dTR/dQ = 400 -6Q AR = TR/Q = 400 - 3Q x (P2 + P1) ----------(Q2 + Q1) = (800 - 700) -----------x (360 - 390) (360 + 390) -----------(800 + 700) = - 1.67
6. (a) The demand function is: Q= = = 150,000 -52P + 80PC + 0.3A + 0.5Y 150,000 -52P + 80(10,000) + 0.3(310,000) + 0.5(25,000) 1,055.500 -52P
Hence, Q = 1,055,500 - 52P = 1,055,500 -52(12,000) = 431,500 (b) The price elasticity of demand is % change in Q ---------------- = % change in P
Q
P ------ = -52 (12,000/431,500) = - 1.45 = 1.45 > 1. Q
ep =
------- .
P
Demand for the car is elastic and thus if the price is raised, total revenue will drop sharply. (c) The income elasticity is % change in Q --------------= % change in Y
Q ------Y
eY=
Y -----Q
= .5 (25,000/431,500) = .029< 1.
Since the income elasticity is greater than 0 but less than 1, the car is normal but not superior. If income goes up, demand will rise but not at the same rate of increase as income.
(c) The cross elasticity is % change in Q ----------------% change in PC

Q ------ PC
ePc =
PC -----Q
= 80(10,000/431,500) = 1.85 > 1.
Since the cross elasticity is greater than 0, these two cars are substitutes. 7. (a) C is a substitute for A, while B is a complement for A. (b) A is an inferior good, as indicated by a negative sign associated with the income variable. (c) QA = 8,500 - 4PA - 2PB + PC - .1Y = 8,500 -4(10) - 2(50) + (50) - .1(40,000) = 4,410 8. (a) By definition, MR = dTR/dQ = d(P x Q)/dQ = d[f(Q)x Q)]/dQ =f(Q) + f(Q) Q = P + Q (dP/dQ)
=P1+
Q dP -----P dQ
=P1+
1 ----eP
(b) We observe that MR > 0 when ep > 1 MR = 0 when ep = 1 MR < 0 when ep < 1 9. (a) ep = % change in Q --------------= % change in p -2 ----1 = -2
(b) The profit-maximizing price is then: P = $15/(1 + 1/-2) = $30 (c) The new optimal price is: P = $14/(1 + 1/-2) = $28 Thus, the profit-maximizing price would fall by $2 following a $1 reduction in the stores marginal costs. 10. % change in Q % change in Q --------------------> -.8 = ---------------% change in P 5% Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 59 ep =
% change in Q = -.8(5) = -4%. The demand for food will fall by 4% if the price increases by 5%. Since the price elasticity is less than 1, demand is inelastic. Thus, the price increase will lead to an increase in your total revenue. 11. (a) Set Qd = 0 and solve for P. Qd = 40,000 - 4,000P = 0; P = $10. (b) Set Qs = 0 and solve for P. Qs = -10,000 + 10,000P = 0; P = $1 (c) At the market equilibrium, Qd = Qs. 40,000 - 4,000P = -10,000 + 10,000P 50,000 = 14,000P; P = $3.57, Substituting P = $3.57 into either the demand and the supply function yields: Qd = 40,000 - 4,000P = 40,000 - 4,000($3.57) = 25,720 units.
CHAPTER 3 QUIZ 1. The movement along the demand curve from one price-quantity combination to another is called a(n) A. Change in demand. B. Shift in the demand curve. C. Change in the quantity demanded. D. Increase in demand. 2. If the coefficient of elasticity is two, then the consumer demand for the product is said to be A. Perfectly inelastic. B. Elastic. C. Inelastic. D. Unit elastic. 3. If the coefficient of elasticity is zero, then the consumer demand for the product is said to be A. Perfectly inelastic. B. Elastic. C. Inelastic. D. Unit elastic. 4. If the elasticity of demand for a normal good is estimated to be 1.5, a 10% reduction in its price would cause A. Total revenue to fall by 10%. B. Total revenue to fall by 15%. C. Quantity demanded to rise by 15%. D. Demand to decrease by 10%. 5. If the demand for a product is inelastic, A. A price decrease causes total revenue to increase. B. A price increase causes total revenue to increase. C. A price decrease leaves total revenue unchanged. D. A price increase leaves total revenue unchanged. 6. Suppose that a stairway manufacturer's price elasticity of demand was elastic. If this manufacturer decided to increase the price of its stairways, what should have been the result? A. Total revenues decreased. B. Total revenues increased. C. Total revenues remain unchanged. D. Total revenues were perfectly elastic. 7. X and Y are substitute products. If the price of product Y increases, the immediate impact on product X is that its A. Price will increase. B. Quantity demanded will increase. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 61
C. Quantity supplied will increase. D. Price, quantity demanded, and supplies will increase. 8. X and Y are complementary products. If the price of product Y increases, the immediate impact on product X is that its A. Price will decrease. B. Quantity demanded will decrease. C. Quantity supplied will decrease. D. Price, quantity demanded, and supplies will remain unchanged. 9. The local video stores business increased by after the movie theater raised its prices from $10.50 to $11.00. Thus, relative to movie theater admissions, videos are A. Substitute goods. B. Superior goods. C. Complementary goods. D. Public goods. 10. The quantity of output a competitive firm can supply at any price is determined in part by average household income. TRUE / FALSE 11. A supply curve illustrates the relationship between A. Price and quantity supplied. B. Price and consumer tastes. C. Price and quantity demanded. D. Supply and demand.
CHAPTER 3 ANSWER KEY 1. (C) is correct. The demand curve represents the relationship between the prices of a commodity and the quantity demanded at those prices, holding other determinants of the quantity demanded constant. Movement along a demand curve reflects a change (increase or decrease) in the quantity demanded. (A) is incorrect. A change in demand (increase or decrease) causes the demand curve to shift. Changes in demand can occur as a result of changes in consumer income, in the price of substitute or complementary products, in the number of consumers, or in the tastes and preferences of consumers. (B) is incorrect. A shift in the demand curve represents changes attributable to something other than price. (D) is incorrect. Market shifters create increase or decrease in demand for a good brought about by a change in any factor other than the price of the product. These factors include (1) consumers' incomes, (2) the prices of substitute or complementary goods, and (3) consumers' tastes. Graphically, a shift in demand may be represented by a parallel movement of the demand curve. 2. (B) is correct. The coefficient of elasticity measures the responsiveness of the percentage change in quantity demanded (the numerator) to a given percentage change in the price of a product (the denominator). Consumer demand is said to be elastic when the coefficient of elasticity is greater than one. (A) is incorrect. Perfect inelasticity exists when the quantity demanded is constant for all prices (the coefficient of elasticity is zero). (C) is incorrect. Inelastic demand is characterized by a coefficient of less than one. (D) is incorrect. Unitary elasticity exists when the coefficient is exactly one. 3. (A) is correct. When the coefficient of elasticity (percentage change in demand/change in price) is less than one, demand is inelastic. When the coefficient is zero, the demand is perfectly inelastic. (B) is incorrect. Demand is elastic when the coefficient is greater than one. (C) is incorrect. Demand is inelastic when the coefficient is less than one but greater than zero. (D) is incorrect. Unitary elasticity exists when the coefficient is exactly one. 4. (C) is correct. Elasticity is the change in demand divided by the change in price. An elasticity of 1.5 means that the change in demand (the numerator of the fraction) will increase by 150% of any change in price (the denominator) measured in absolute terms (the minus sign is ignored). Thus, a 10% price reduction increases demand by 15% (1.5 x 10%). Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 63
(A) is incorrect. Revenue should rise as the price drops. (B) is incorrect. Revenue should rise by 15% as the price drops by 10%. (D) is incorrect. The price decline will lead to increased demand if elasticity is greater than 1.0. 5. (B) is correct. If the demand for a product is inelastic, the coefficient of price elasticity of demand (percentage change in quantity demanded percentage change in price) is less than 1.0. The relationship between price changes and total revenue (TR) changes is TR = price x quantity. The result is that a price increase causes total revenue to increase. (A) is incorrect. A price decrease causes total revenue to increase if demand is price elastic. (C) is incorrect. A price decrease (or increase) leaves total revenue unchanged if demand has unitary price elasticity. (D) is incorrect. A price increase (or decrease) leaves total revenue unchanged if demand has unitary price elasticity. 6. (A) is correct. Economists have established the following relationships between price elasticity (ep) and total revenue (TR), which can aid a firm in setting its price. Price ep > 1 ep = 1 ep < 1 Price rises Price falls TR falls TR rises No change No change TR rises TR falls
(B) is incorrect. An elastic demand would lead to decreased revenues as prices rise. (C) is incorrect. Elastic demand refers to the condition in which the percentage change in quantity is greater than the percentage change in price. If price increased 10%, the quantity demanded would decline by more than 10%. Therefore, total revenues would decrease. (D) is incorrect. Demand, not revenues, is elastic. 7. (B) is correct. By definition, if two goods are substitutes, the price of one and the demand for the other are directly related. For example, if the price of Y increases, the quantity demanded of X will increase. (A) is incorrect. The price will remain unchanged. (C) is incorrect. The change in quantity supplied will not be immediate. (D) is incorrect. Only quantity demanded will increase immediately. 8. (B) is correct. By definition, if two goods are complements, such as tennis racquets and Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 64
tennis balls, an increase in the quantity demanded of one tends to increase the quantity demanded of the other. As a result, the price of one and the quantity demanded of the other are inversely related. Thus, if the price of Y increases, the quantity demanded of X will decrease. (A) is incorrect. A price increase for one product does not immediately affect the price of another product. (C) is incorrect. Quantity supplied will remain unchanged in the short run. (D) is incorrect. Quantity demanded will decrease. 9. (A) is correct. The increase in prices at the movie theater caused consumers to demand fewer movies at the theater and more movies at the video store (where prices were unchanged). Thus, cross-elasticity of demand existed because the percentage change in quantity demanded of videos was correlated with the percentage change in the price of movie theater tickets. The correlation was positive, so the goods are substitutes. (B) is incorrect. Superior (normal) goods are defined as those for which demand is positively correlated with income. (C) is incorrect. Sales of a complementary good are negatively correlated with changes in the price of its complement. For example, sales of tennis balls decrease with an increase in tennis racquet prices. (D) is incorrect. Public goods are characterized by the difficulty of excluding individuals from their benefits. Examples are national defense and public parks. 10. (F) is correct. A competitive firm will produce at a level at which MC equals MR (selling price). Thus, a change in input prices affects MC and the quantity of output supplied. (T) is incorrect. In perfect competition, a particular firm will produce for a market in which the selling price is given; only costs can influence the level of production. 11. (A) is correct. A supply curve illustrates the relationship between price and the quantity of a good that sellers are willing to supply. As price increases, the supply will increase. (B) is incorrect. Consumer tastes are reflected by the demand curve, not the supply curve. (C) is incorrect. The demand curve shows the relationship between price and quantity demanded. (D) is incorrect. The supply curve shows only the supply, not the demand.
Chapter 4 QUANTITATIVE DEMAND ANALYSIS LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. Design consumer surveys. 2. Conduct and discuss market experiments. 3. Discuss an identification problem. 4. Explain regression analysis. 5. Compute and give an example of linear regression. 6. Define and calculate the simple regression. 7. Explain the least-squares method. 8. Understand and explain multiple regression method. 9. Compute the standard error of the regression coefficient. 10. Demonstrate and calculate the standard error of the estimate. 11. Illustrate and explain the coefficient of determination. In the previous chapter, the theory of demand was developed; the concepts of demand elasticity were introduced and analyzed. In this chapter we explore the procedures that may be used in making empirical estimates of demand functions. With demand estimation, we will be able to quantitatively calculate the various elasticities and determine the impact of a change in various factors such as price, income, or advertising on quantity demanded. Essentially there are two major approaches to demand estimation: Direct and statistical. Direct approaches to demand estimation include consumer surveys and market experiments. A sample of market data taken at a point in time is a cross-section. Statistical estimation of the demand function primarily rests on econometrics and regression analysis. Consumer Surveys Consumers are questioned about their likely response to such things as sensitivity to price change, willingness to buy, or awareness of advertising campaigns. By aggregating the data obtained, the firm can develop a better understanding of key factors in its demand function. An advantage is that in short-term sales forecasting, subjective information about consumer attitudes and expectations, obtainable only through interview methods, often makes the difference between an accurate estimate and one that misses by a wide margin. It is fraught with potential pitfalls. One is that consumers are frequently unable, and at times unwilling, to provide accurate answers to hypothetical questions about how they would respond to changes in major demand variables. Market Experiments Market experiments involve examining the way consumers behave in real-market situations. A firm varies prices, advertising, and other controllable variables in the demand function, with the variations occurring either over time or between markets and observe the impact on quantity demanded. An advantage is that because important variables in the demand function such as price and advertising are controlled by the experimenter, the firm can gain some insight regarding the short-run effects. Wide swings Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 66
in important demand-related factors can be gained. Or a feel can be developed for the price elasticity or cross elasticity of demand for a product. Major drawbacks are: (a) These experiments are extremely expensive to undertake on a large scale. (b) Because of the high cost and the risk involved, the duration of the test is likely to be short. The experimenter is thus forced to examine short-run data and must attempt to extend it to a longer period. (c) Possible changes in external economic conditions or competitor behavior during the market test can undermine the validity of the results. NOTE: Each technique of demand estimation has important pros and cons. Firms must make their choice of demand estimation method, or an appropriate combination of methods, on the basis of individual estimation problem characteristics. IDENTIFICATION PROBLEM We often encounter a statistical problem in the estimation of the parameters of one function such as the demand function when simultaneous relations exist. When the same two endogenous variables appear in at least two different equations in a simultaneous model, a problem exists of identifying which relationship can be estimated on the basis of data, because all the variables change simultaneously. For instance, both supply curves and demand curves may be specified with quantity as the dependent variable, and price as the explanatory variable. Any observations available are actually all the same, namely at the intersection point of demand and supply. It is impossible to distinguish the demand curve from the true supply curve or any other line which passes through the intersection point. (See Figure 1). The scatter of dots arises because both the supply curves and demand curves are shifting (possibly in unobservable ways). In order to distinguish between equations, their specifications require knowledge of actual shifts in demand or supply due to changes in some factor which affects only one of the curves. When the problem is serious, consumer surveys and market experiments can be used to gain important demand information.
FIGURE 1 IDENTIFICATION PROBLEM: DEMAND AND SUPPLY
ECONOMETRICS AND REGRESSION ANALYSIS A major empirical work is done within the framework of econometrics. Econometrics is concerned with empirical testing of economic theory using various estimation methods including regression analysis. The technique of regression analysis is perhaps the best known and most frequently used technique in developing estimates of demand function. REGRESSION ANALYSIS Regression analysis is a statistical procedure for estimating mathematically the average relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variable(s). Simple regression involves one independent variable, price or advertising in a demand function, whereas multiple regression involves two or more variables, that is price and advertising together. LEAST-SQUARES METHOD The least-squares method is widely used in regression analysis for estimating the parameter values in a regression equation. The regression method includes all the observed data and attempts to find a line of best fit. To find this line, a technique called the least-squares method is used. We first assume a linear relation: Y = + X + e, where and are the true (but unknown) population parameters of the regression line and e = an error term. In the real world, our task is to find an estimate of and from a sample data. Thus we wish to find Y' = a + bX, where a and b are estimates of and , respectively, and Y is the calculated value of Y given a particular value of X and our estimated relationship. Then Y = a + bX + u Where u is the error term for our estimated relationship and is an estimate of e, the population error term. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 68
Thus, u = Y - Y' The least-squares criterion requires that the line of best fit be such that the sum of the squares of the errors (or the vertical distance in Figure 2 from the observed data points to the line) is a minimum, i.e., Minimum: u2 = (Y a - bX)2 Using differential calculus we obtain the following equations, called normal equations:
Y = na + bX XY = aX + bX2
Solving the equations for b and a yields b=
n XY - ( X)( Y) n X 2 ( X) 2
a = Y bX
Where Y =
Y
n
and X =
X
n
FIGURE 2 SCATTERGRAPH: Y AND Y'
EXAMPLE 1 DHG Oil Company has observed the following price-quantity relationships over the last six periods: Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 Price (X) 1.20 1.21 1.25 1.17 1.15 1.19 7.17 Quantity demanded(Y) 250 245 200 310 375 280 1660
To illustrate the computations of b and a, we will refer to the data in Table 1. All the sums required are computed and shown below.
TABLE 1 COMPUTED SUMS Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 Price (X) 1.20 1.21 1.25 1.17 1.15 1.19 7.17 Quantity demanded(Y) 250 245 200 310 375 280 1660 XY 300.00 296.45 250.00 362.70 431.25 333.20 1973.60 X-squared 1.4400 1.4641 1.5625 1.3689 1.3225 1.4161 8.5741 Y-squared 62,500 60,025 40,000 96,100 140,625 78,400 477,650
From the table above: X = 7.17; Y = 1660;
XY = 1973.60;
X2 = 8.5741
X = X/n = 7.17/6 = 1.20; Y = Y/n = 1660/6 = 276.67
Substituting these values into the formula for b first: nXY - (X)( Y) (6)(1973.60) - (7.17)(1660) -60.60 = ----------------------------- = ------------------------------------ = --------- = -1697.48 nX2 - (X)2 (6)(8.5741) - (7.17)2 0.0357 _ _ = Y - bX = 276.67 - (-1697.48)(1.20)) = 2305.15
Thus, Y' = 2305.15 1697.48 X Note that Y2 is not used here but rather is computed for r-squared (r2).
FIGURE 3 SCATTER DIAGRAM
Quantity demanded
400 300 200 100 0 0.90 1.00 1.10 Price 1.20 1.30
Note: The objective of a scatter diagram is to demonstrate correlations. Each observation is represented by a dot on a graph corresponding to a particular value of X (the independent variable) and Y (the dependent variable). EXAMPLE 2 Assume a price of $1.10 is to be expended for next year; the projected sales for the next year would be computed as follows: Y' = 2305.15 1697.48 X = 2305.15 1697.48(1.10) = $437.92 REGRESSION STATISTICS Regression analysis is a statistical method. Hence, it uses a variety of statistics to tell about the accuracy and reliability of the regression results. They include: 1. Correlation coefficient (r) and coefficient of determination(r2) 2. Standard error of the estimate (Se) and prediction confidence interval 3. Standard error of the regression coefficient (Sb) and confidence interval 4. t-statistic Each of these statistics is explained below. 1. Correlation coefficient (r) and coefficient of determination (r2) The correlation coefficient r measures the degree of correlation between Y and X. The range of values it takes on is between -1 and +1. More widely used, however, is the coefficient of determination, designated r2 (read as r-squared). Simply put, r2 tells us how good the estimated regression equation is. In other words, it is a measure of "goodness of fit" in the regression. Therefore, the higher the r2, the more confidence we have in our estimated equation. NOTE: A low r2 is an indication that the model is inadequate for explaining the Y variable. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 72
The general causes for this problem are: 1. Use of a wrong functional form. 2. Poor choice of an X variable as the predictor. 3. The omission of some important variable or variables from the model.
EXAMPLE 3 The statement "Sales is a function of price with r2 = 70 percent," can be interpreted as "70 percent of the total variation of sales is explained by the regression equation and the change in price and the remaining 30 percent is accounted for by something other than price, such as advertising and income." As shown in Figure 4, the total deviation of the dependent variable Y from its mean Y can be divided into two parts. (Y - Y ) (Total Deviation) = (Y - Y') (Unexplained Deviation) + (Y' - Y ) (Explained Deviation)
The measure of the goodness of fit of a regression line, expressed by the coefficient of determination (r2), is made by comparing (Y' - Y )2, the explained sum of squares with the total sum of the squares (Y - Y )2. That is, r2 =
(Y' - Y )2 Explained variance -------------- = ---------------------- (Y - Y )2 Total variance
Thus, the coefficient of determination represents the proportion of the total variation in Y that is explained by the regression equation. It has the range of values between 0 and 1.
NOTE: The sum of squares of the explained deviation plus the sum of squares of the unexplained deviation equals the total sum of squares.
FIGURE 4 FUNDAMENTAL MEASURE OF VARIANCE (DEVIATION)
In a simple regression situation, however, there is a short-cut method available:
r2 =
[n XY - ( X)( Y)]2 [n X 2 ( X) 2 ][n Y 2 - ( Y) 2 ]
Comparing this formula with the one for b, we see that the only additional information we need to compute r2 is Y2. EXAMPLE 4 To illustrate the computations of various regression statistics, we will refer to the data in Table 1. Using the shortcut method for r2, r =
2
[(6)(1973.60) - (7.17)(1660)]2 [(6)(8.5741) - (7.17)2][ (6) (477650)- (1660)2 ] 3672.36 = 3937.71 = 0.9326 = 93.26%
(-60.60)2 = (0.0357) (110300 )
This means that about 93.26 percent of the total variation in sales is explained by price and the remaining 6.74 percent is still unexplained. A relatively high r2 indicates that Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 74
the estimated demand function is quite reliable and price is an excellent determinant of demand. 2. Standard Error of the Estimate (Se) and Prediction Confidence Interval The standard error of the estimate, designated Se, is defined as the standard deviation of the regression. It is computed as: Se =
(Y - Y' )
n-2
- a Y - b XY n-2
This statistic can be used to gain some idea of the accuracy of our predictions. EXAMPLE 5 Going back to our example data, Se is calculated as :
Se
(477650) - (2305.15)(1660) - (-1697.48)(1973.60) 6-2 1247.5 4
= 17.66
Suppose you wish to make a prediction regarding an individual Y value--such as a prediction about the sales when price is $1.10. Usually, we would like to have some objective measure of the confidence we can place in our prediction, and one such measure is a confidence (or prediction) interval constructed for Y. A confidence interval for a predicted Y, given a value for X, can be constructed in the following manner.
Y' t Se
1 1+ + n
(X p X) 2
X2 -
( X) 2 n
Where Y' = the predicted value of Y given a value for X; Xp = the value of an independent variable used as the basis for prediction; Note: t is the critical value for the level of significance employed. For example, for a significance level of 0.025 (which is equivalent to a 95% confidence level in a two-tailed test), the critical value of t for 4 degrees of freedom is 2.776 (See Table 5 in the Appendix).
NOTE: Degrees of freedom (df) is the number of observations beyond the absolute minimum needed to calculate a given regression line or statistic. For example, to compute a constant term, a, at least one observation is needed; to compute a and b, at least two observations are required; and so on. EXAMPLE 6 If you want to have a 95 percent confidence interval of your prediction, the range for the prediction, given a price of $1.10 would be between $356.93 and $518.91, as determined as follows: Note that from Example 2, Y' = 2305.15 - 1697.X = 2305.15 1697.48($1.10) = $437.92 The confidence interval is therefore established as follows:
2
$437.92 (2.776)(17.66)
1 (1.10 - 1.195) 1 + + 2 6 8.5741 -(7.17) /6
= $437.92 (2.776)(17.66) (1.638) = $437.92 80.30
Which means the range for the prediction, given a price of $1.10 would be between $356.62 and $518.21. Note that $356.93 = $437.92 80.30 and $518.91 =$437.92 + 80.30. NOTE: Many managerial economics texts use Y' t Se for the prediction interval, ignoring the adjustment factor. In Example 6, the interval is $437.92 (2.776)(17.66). 3. Standard Error of the Regression Coefficient (Sb) The standard error of the regression coefficient, designated Sb, and the t-statistic are closely related. Sb is calculated as: Se Se Sb = (X - X) 2 or in short-cut form Se
(X 2 - X X )
Sb =
Sb gives an estimate of the range where the true coefficient will "actually" fall. Just as Se was used to determine confidence intervals for your prediction, Sb can be used to estimate confidence intervals of the true value of the regression coefficient with varying degrees of confidence. The intervals are b + t Sb Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 76
4. t-Statistic t-statistics (or t-value) is a measure of the statistical significance of an independent variable X in explaining the dependent variable Y. It is determined by b- t = -----------Sb Since we wish to test the hypothesis that = 0, we substitute = 0 into this formula, which means that we essentially divide the estimated regression coefficient b by its standard error Sb. It is then compared with the table t-value to determine if the null hypothesis is true. Note: The t-statistic basically measures how many standard errors the coefficient is away from zero. The higher the t-value, the greater the confidence we have in the coefficient as a predictor. Low t-values are indications of low reliability of the predictive power of that coefficient. EXAMPLE 7 The Sb for our example is: 17.66 Sb = ------------------------------- 8.5741 - (1.195)(7.17) 17.66 = ----------------------- 0.00585 17.66 = ---------------- = 231.15 0.0764
b- 0 -1697.48 Thus, t-statistic = ----------- = ---------------Sb 231.15
= -7.34
Since, t = 7.34 (the absolute value of 7.34) > 2.776 (the table t-value), we conclude that the null hypothesis is false and therefore the b coefficient is statistically significant. NOTE: (1) t-statistic is more relevant to multiple regressions which have more than one b's. (2) r2 tells you how good the forest (overall fit) is while t-statistic tells you how good an individual tree (an independent variable) is. In summary, the table t value, based on a degree of freedom and a level of significance, is used: (1)To set the prediction range -- upper and lower limits -- for the predicted value of the dependent variable. (2) To estimate confidence intervals within which the true value of the regression coefficient falls. (3) As a cutoff value for the t-test. USE OF EXCEL FOR REGRESSION Spreadsheet programs, such as Excel, have a regression routine which you can use Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 77
without any difficulty. You can access the regression tool by completing the following steps: 1. Click the Tools menu. 2. Click Data Analysis. 3. Click Regression.
After you choose the Regression command, the Regression dialog box appears which asks you to select the Y-Range, the X-Range, and the Output Range. After selecting these ranges, you can click the OK button and Excel will calculate the least-squares values for the parameters a and b (along with other summary statistics), as shown below. SUMMARY OUTPUT Regression Statistics Multiple R 0.96572 R Square 0.93261 Adjusted R 0.91577 Square Standard 17.5983 Error Observations 6 ANOVA Regression Residual Total df 1 4 5 Coefficients Intercept X Variable 1 2305.15 -1697.48 SS MS F Significance F 17144.54 17144.54 55.35873 0.001742641 1238.796 309.6989 18383.33 Standard t Stat P-value Lower 95% Error 272.7282 8.452204 0.001073 1547.937731 228.1452 -7.44035 0.001743 -2330.912925 Upper 95% 3062.37 -1064.05
NOTE: Note from the Excel regression output that (a) b = -1697.48 and a = 2305.15; therefore, the estimated demand function is Y = 2305.15 1697.48X 2 (b) r = .93261 (c) Se = 17.5983 (d) Sb = 228.1452 (e) t for the regression coefficient = -7.44035 The computer output numbers are different from manually obtained numbers due to rounding errors. Computer numbers are more accurate since the computer carries computations to more decimal digits. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 78
QUESTIONS 1. Why is the identification problem often serious for demand estimation? 2. What criteria must be met if regression-based analysis is to provide an accurate estimate of demand relationships? 3. What is "consumer surveys'? What are some of the problems associated with the use of consumer surveys to estimate the demand for a firm's product? 4. Explain market experiments: what they are, how they may be used, and any limitations that they might have. 5. Distinguish between simple regression and multiple regression. Give an example of each. 6. What does a low r2 mean? What are some causes for this? 7. What are the uses of the t-table value obtained based on a given degree of freedom and a given level of significance? 8. What are the primary uses of standard errors? PROBLEMS 1. The following are the advertising and sales data of Jupiter Corporation over an eight-month period. Advertising Sales (000 omitted) (000 omitted) 320 $2,600 200 1,500 230 2,150 240 2,250 720 4,700 560 3,700 470 3,300 750 4,750 a) Develop the demand equation by using the method of least squares. b) Compute the coefficient of determination. c) Comment on the choice of advertising in predicting sales. Is advertising a good predictor? 2. A government economist wishes to establish the relationship between annual family income X and savings Y. A sample of 100 families has been made and the following calculations have been obtained (X and Y are measured in thousands of dollars): X = $1,239 Y = $79 XY = $1,613 X2 = $17,322 Y2 = $293 a) Determine the equation for the estimated regression line. b) State the meaning of the slop b and the intercept value a. c) Compute the coefficient of determination r2. d) Calculate the standard error of the estimate se. e) Write down the expression for the predicted range of Y (Use the table t-value = 1.98 with 98 degrees of freedom and a 5% significance level). 3. You want to estimate the demand function for gasoline. Given the following data and the regression output from Excel: Period Price (P) Quantity demanded(Q)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1.20 1.30 1.25 1.33 1.27 0.99 1.15 1.36 1.19 1.22 12.26
300 295 298 275 266 360 325 266 311 325 3021
SUMMARY OUTPUT Regression Statistics Multiple R 0.9128 R Square 0.8333 Adjusted R 0.8124 Square Standard 12.826 Error Observations 10 ANOVA df Regression Residual Total 1 8 9 SS MS F Significance F 0.000227161
6576.785 6576.785 39.97698 1316.115 164.5143 7892.9
Intercept X Variable 1
Coefficients Standard t Stat P-value Error 616.13 49.83278 12.36403 1.71E-06 -256.15 40.51178 -6.32274 0.000227
Lower 95%
Upper 95%
501.2194022 731.0488 -349.565642 -162.725 5
a) Write the estimated demand function. b) What is r2? What does that number indicate? c) Compute the point elasticity of demand when the price is $1. Is this product price elastic? d) Determine the confidence interval for the price coefficient (The table t-value with a 5% significance level and 8 (10 - 2) degrees of freedom is 2.306). e) What is t-value for the regression coefficient? What does that indicate? f) Can this estimated relationship be improved? What would you suggest? ANSWERS 1. The identification problem occurs when many factors that influence product demand also affect product supply. When two economic relations, such as demand and supply Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 80
2.
3.
4.
5. 6.
7.
8.
functions, are so interrelated so as to make empirical estimation of the relations impossible, we say that we are unable to identify the individual functions. The regression model must be properly specified. In other words, the range of factors influencing demand must be properly identified and the correct functional form must be employed. Many statistics such as r2 and t-tests are used to ascertain whether these conditions are satisfied. Potential and actual customers are questioned about various factors affecting their demand for a firm's product. Two problems are: (a) consumers may not be able to respond accurately to specific questions such as proposed price changes, and (b) such surveys may be quite expensive. A market experiment is conducted by varying those factors that supposedly affect the demand and which are under control, such as pricing or advertising. The experiment can be expensive and risky. It may not generate a sufficiently large number of observations to make reliable estimates of the demand function. Simple regression involves one independent variable, price or advertising in a demand function, whereas multiple regression involves two or more variables, that is price and advertising together. A low r2 is an indication that the model is inadequate for explaining the Y variable. The general causes for this problem are: (a) use of a wrong functional form, (b) poor choice of an X variable as the predictor, and/or (c) the omission of some important variable or variables from the model. The t--table value is used (a) to set the prediction range -- upper and lower limits set with a specified level of confidence (e.g., 95 percent) -- for the predicted value of the dependent variable, (b) to set the confidence interval for regression coefficients, and (c) as a cutoff value for the t-test. The standard error of the estimate, Se, is used to set a prediction range for the value of the dependent variable with varying degrees of confidence, while the standard error of the regression coefficient, Sb, gives an estimate of the range where the true coefficient will "actually" fall.
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS 1. a) Based on the method of least squares, we obtain: Advertising X 320 200 230 240 720 560 470 750 3,490 Sales Y $2,600 1,500 2,150 2,250 4,700 3,700 3,300 4,750 24,950 XY 832,000 300,000 494,500 540,000 3,384,000 2,072,000 1,551,000 3,562,500 12,736,000 X2 102,400 40,000 52,900 57,600 518,400 313,600 220,900 562,500 1,868,300 Y2 6,760,000 2,250,000 4,622,500 5,062,500 22,090,000 13,690,000 10,890,000 22,562,500 87,927,500 X2 = 1,868,300
From the table: n = 8 X = 3,490 Y = 24,950 XY = 12,736,000 Substituting these values into the formula for b first:
nXY - (X)(Y) b= -------------------nX2 - (X)2 =
(8)(12,736,000) - (3,490)(24,95 0) -----------------------------------(8)(1,868,300) - (3,490)2
= $5.35
a = (Y/n) - b (X/n) = 24,950/8 - (5.35)(3,490/8) = 3,119 - 2,334 = $785 Thus, the regression model is $785 + $5.35 X b) r2 = [(8)(12,736,000) - (3,490)(24,950)]2 [ (8)(1,868,300) - (3,490)2][(8)(87,927,500) (24,950)2]
= 0.9801 = 98.01% c) Advertising was an excellent choice in explaining the behavior of sales as the high r-squared indicated: 98.01 percent of the total change in sales was explained by advertising alone. Only 1.99 percent was due to chance. 2. a) b=
(100)(1,613) - (1,239)(79) (100)(17,322) (1,239)(1,239) 79 100 - (0.3218) 1,239 100
63,419 197,079
= 0.3218
a=
= -3.1971
Therefore, the estimated relationship between annual income and savings is: -$3.1971 + $0.3218 per dollar of annual income b) The b value, $0.3218, means that an average family saves about $0.32 for every dollar they earn annually. The intercept value a (-3.1971) means that an average family has an annual debt of $3,197.10.
c) r2 =
(63,419)2 (197,079)[(100)(293) (79)(79)] (63,419)2 (197,079)(23,059) = 0.885
= d)
293 - (-3.1971)(79) - (0.3218)(1,613) Se = 100 - 2 = 0.520
e)
Y' (1.98)( (0.52) 1 +
1 + n
(X p X) 2
( X) 2 n
3. a) Q = 616.13 256.15P b) r2 = 83.33%, which means the total variation in quantity demand is explained by price alone. The remaining 16.67% is still unexplained. c) At P = $1, Q = 616.13 256.15P = 616.13 256.15($1) = 359.98 ePc= % change in Q ---------------= % change in P dQ -----dP . P ----Q = (-256.15)(1/359.98) = 0.71 < 1.
The product is not sensitive to price change. d) The intervals are b + t Sb = -256.15 + (2.306) (40.512) = -256.15 + 93.42. The range then is -349.57 to -162.73 e) The t-value = -6.32, which is greater than 2 (in absolute value). The regression coefficient is statistically significant. f) The addition of advertising or income may improve the estimated demand relationship.
CHAPTER 4 QUIZ 1. In a simple linear regression model, the standard error of the estimate of Y represents A. A range of values constructed from the regression equation results for a specified level of probability. B. A variability about the least squares line that is uniform for all values of the independent variable in the sample. C. A measure of variability of the actual observations from the regression line. D. The proportion of the variance explained by the independent variable. 2. In regression analysis, the coefficient of determination is a measure of A. The amount of variation in the dependent variable explained by the independent variables. B. The amount of variation in the dependent variable unexplained by the independent variables. C. The slope of the regression line. D. The predicted value of the dependent variable. 3. Demand estimation programs employ many tools for problem definition and analysis. A scatter diagram is one of these tools. The objective of a scatter diagram is to A. Display a population of items for analysis. B. Show frequency distribution in graphic form. C. Divide a universe of data into homogeneous groups. D. Show the vital trend and separate trivial items.
CHAPTER 4 ANSWER KEY 1. (C) is correct. The standard error of the estimate represents the variance of actual observations from the regression line. It is computed as:
(Y - Y' )
n-2 This statistic can be used to gain some idea of the accuracy of our predictions.
(A) is incorrect. It describes a confidence interval. (B) is incorrect. It describes constant variance. (D) is incorrect. It describes the coefficient of determination. 2. (A) is correct. Squaring the coefficient of correlation gives the coefficient of determination, which is a measure of the amount of variation in a dependent variable that can be explained by independent variables. (B) is incorrect. The complement of the coefficient of determination is the unexplained variation. (C) is incorrect. The slope is the change in the dependent variable in relation to the change in independent variable. (D) is incorrect. The predicted value of the dependent variable is calculated by the regression formula (y=a + bx for simple regression). 3. (A) is correct. The objective of a scatter diagram is to demonstrate correlations. Each observation is represented by a dot on a graph corresponding to a particular value of X (the independent variable) and Y (the dependent variable). (B) is incorrect. The objective of a histogram is to show frequency distribution in graphic form. (C) is incorrect. The objective of stratification is to divide a universe of data into homogeneous groups. (D) is incorrect. Regression analysis is used to find trend lines.
CHAPTER 5 ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS FORECASTING LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. Explain a naive model. 2. Understand the principles involved in the Delphi method. 3. Compute a moving average. 4. Understand and explain exponential smoothing. 5. Identify and articulate the process of trend analysis. 6. Compute the mean squared error (MSE). 7. Understand and articulate barometric forecasting. 8. Identify and give examples of an econometric model. 9. Calculate and implement input-output analysis. 10. Illustrate and discuss equilibrium. Management typically operates under conditions of uncertainty or risk. Probably the most important function of business is forecasting. A forecast is a starting point for planning. The objective of forecasting is to reduce risk in decision making. In business, forecasts are the basis for capacity planning, production and inventory planning, manpower planning, planning for sales and market share, financial planning and budgeting, planning for research and development, and top management's strategic planning. Sales forecasts are especially crucial aspects of many financial management activities, including budgets, profit planning, capital expenditure analysis, and acquisition and merger analysis. Figure 1 illustrates how sales forecasts relate to various managerial functions of business. FIGURE 1 SALES FORECASTS AND MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS
WHO USES FORECASTS? Forecasts are needed for marketing, production, purchasing, manpower, and financial planning. Further, top management needs forecasts for planning and implementing long-term strategic objectives and planning for capital expenditures. More specifically, marketing managers use sales forecasts to determine (1) optimal sales force allocations, (2) set sales goals, and (3) plan promotions and advertising. Other things such as market share, prices, and trends in new product development are required. Production planners need forecasts in order to (a) schedule production activities, (b) order materials, (c) establish inventory levels, and (d) plan shipments. Some other areas which need forecasts include material requirements (purchasing and procurement), labor scheduling, equipment purchases, maintenance requirements, and plant capacity planning. As shown in Figure 1, as soon as the company makes sure that it has enough capacity, the production plan is developed. If the company does not have enough capacity, it will require planning and budgeting decisions for capital spending for capacity expansion. On this basis, the financial manager must estimate the future cash inflow and outflow. He must plan cash and borrowing needs for the company's future operations. Forecasts of cash flows and the rates of expenses and revenues are needed to maintain corporate liquidity and operating efficiency. In planning for capital investments, predictions about future economic activity are required so that returns or cash inflows accruing from the investment may be estimated. Forecasts must also be made of money and credit conditions and interest rates so that the cash needs of the firm may be met at the lowest possible cost. The finance and accounting functions must also forecast interest rates to support the acquisition of new capital, the collection of accounts receivable to help in planning working capital needs, and capital equipment expenditure rates to help balance the flow of funds in the organization. Sound predictions of foreign exchange rates are increasingly important to financial managers of multinational companies (MNCs). Long-term forecasts are needed for the planning of changes in the company's capital structure. Decisions as to whether to issue stock or debt in order to maintain the desired financial structure of the firm require forecasts of money and credit conditions. The personnel department requires a number of forecasts in planning for human resources in the business. Workers must be hired and trained, and for these personnel there must be benefits provided that are competitive with those available in the firm's labor market. Also, trends that affect such variables as labor turnover, retirement age, absenteeism, and tardiness need to be forecast as input for planning and decision making in this function. Service businesses, such as banks, insurance companies, restaurants, and cruise ships, need various projections for their operational and long-term strategic planning. Take a bank, for example. The bank has to forecast: .Demands of various loans and deposits . Money and credit conditions so that it can determine the cost of money it lends
TYPES OF FORECASTS The types of forecasts used by businesses and other organizations may be classified in several categories, depending on the objective and the situation for which a forecast is to be used. Three types are discussed below. SALES FORECASTS The sales forecast gives the expected level of sales for the company's goods or services throughout some future period and is instrumental in the company's planning and budgeting functions. It is the key to other forecasts and plans. FINANCIAL FORECASTS Although the sales forecast is the primary input to many financial decisions, some financial forecasts need to be made independently of sales forecasts. ECONOMIC FORECASTS Economic forecasts, or statements of expected future business conditions, are published by governmental agencies and private economic forecasting firms. Businesses can use these forecasts and develop their own forecasts about external business conditions that will affect their product demand. Economic forecasts cover a variety of topics including GDP, levels of employment, interest rates, and foreign exchange rates. FORECASTING METHODOLOGY There is a wide range of forecasting techniques which the company may choose from. There are basically three approaches to forecasting: qualitative, quantitative, and methods used for economic forecasting. They are as follows: 1. Qualitative approach - forecasts based on judgment and opinion. .Executive opinions .Delphi technique .Sales force polling .Consumer surveys 2. Quantitative approach .Naive methods .Moving averages .Exponential smoothing .Trend analysis .Decomposition of time series .Simple regression .Multiple regression 3. Economic forecasting methodology .Barometric forecasting .Econometric models .Input-output analysis .Opinion polling Quantitative models work superbly as long as little or no systematic change in the environment takes place. When patterns or relationships do change, by themselves, the Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 88
objective models are of little use. It is here where the qualitative approach based on human judgment is indispensable. Because judgmental forecasting also bases forecasts on observation of existing trends, they too are subject to a number of shortcomings. The advantage, however, is that they can identify systematic change more quickly and interpret better the effect of such change on the future. SELECTION OF FORECASTING METHOD The choice of a forecasting technique is significantly influenced by the stage of the product life cycle, and sometimes by the firm or industry for which a decision is being made. In the beginning of the product life cycle, relatively small expenditures are made for research and market investigation. During the first phase of product introduction, these expenditures start to increase. In the rapid growth stage, considerable amounts of money are involved in the decisions; therefore a high level of accuracy is desirable. After the product has entered the maturity stage, the decisions are more routine, involving marketing and manufacturing. These are important considerations when determining the appropriate sales forecast technique. After evaluating the particular stages of the product, and firm and industry life cycles, a further probe is necessary. Instead of selecting a forecasting technique by using whatever seems applicable, decision makers should determine what is appropriate. Some of the techniques are quite simple and rather inexpensive to develop and use, whereas others are extremely complex, require significant amounts of time to develop, and may be quite expensive. Some are best suited for short-term projections, whereas others are better prepared for intermediate- or long-term forecasts. What technique or techniques to select depends on the following criteria: 1. What is the cost associated with developing the forecasting model compared with potential gains resulting from its use? The choice is one of a benefit-cost trade-off. 2. How complicated are the relationships that are being forecasted? 3. Is it for short-run or long-run purposes? 4. How much accuracy is desired? 5. Is there a minimum tolerance level of errors? 6. How much data are available? Techniques vary in the amount of data they require. THE QUALITATIVE APPROACH The qualitative (or judgmental) approach can be useful in formulating short-term forecasts and also can supplement the projections based on the use of any of the qualitative methods. Four of the better known qualitative forecasting methods are Executive Opinions, the Delphi Method, Sales Force Polling, and Consumer Surveys. EXECUTIVE OPINIONS The subjective views of executives or experts from sales, production, finance, purchasing and administration are averaged to generate a forecast about future sales. Usually this method is used in conjunction with some quantitative method such as trend extrapolation. The management team modifies the resulting forecast based on their expectations. The advantage of this approach is that the forecasting is done quickly and easily, without need of elaborate statistics. Also, the jury of executive opinions may be the only Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 89
feasible means of forecasting in the absence of adequate data. The disadvantage, however, is that of "group think." This is a set of problems inherent to those who meet as a group. Foremost among these problems are high cohesiveness, strong leadership, and insulation of the group. With high cohesiveness, the group becomes increasingly conforming through group pressure which helps stifle dissension and critical thought. Strong leadership fosters group pressure for unanimous opinion. Insulation of the group tends to separate the group from outside opinions, if given. THE DELPHI METHOD It is a group technique in which a panel of experts is individually questioned about their perceptions of future events. The experts do not meet as a group in order to reduce the possibility that consensus is reached because of dominant personality factors. Instead, the forecasts and accompanying arguments are summarized by an outside party and returned to the experts along with further questions. This continues until a consensus is reached by the group, especially after only a few rounds. This type of method is useful and quite effective for long-range forecasting. The technique is done by "questionnaire" format and thus it eliminates the disadvantages of group think. There is no committee or debate. The experts are not influenced by peer pressure to forecast a certain way, as the answer is not intended to be reached by consensus or unanimity. Low reliability is cited as the main disadvantage of the Delphi Method, as well as lack of consensus from the returns. SALES-FORCE POLLING Some companies use as a forecast source sales people who have continual contacts with customers. They believe that the sales force who are closest to the ultimate customers may have significant insights regarding the state of the future market. Forecasts based on sales-force polling may be averaged to develop a future forecast. Or they may be used to modify other quantitative and/or qualitative forecasts that have been generated internally in the company. The advantages to this way of forecast are that (1) it is simple to use and understand, (2) it uses the specialized knowledge of those closest to the action, (3) it can place responsibility for attaining the forecast in the hands of those who most affect the actual results, and (4) the information can be easily broken down by territory, product, customer or salesperson. The disadvantages include salespeople being overly optimistic or pessimistic regarding their predictions, and inaccuracies due to broader economic events that are largely beyond their control. CONSUMER SURVEYS Some companies conduct their own market surveys regarding specific consumer purchases. Surveys may consist of telephone contacts, personal interviews, or questionnaires as a means of obtaining data. Extensive statistical analysis is usually applied to survey results in order to test hypotheses regarding consumer behavior. NAIVE MODELS, MOVING AVERAGES, AND SMOOTHING METHODS This section discusses several forecasting methods that fall in the quantitative (time-series) approach category. Time-series methods use historical data as the basis for projection. The discussion includes naive models, moving averages, exponential smoothing, and time series. Regressions were covered in the previous chapter. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 90
NAIVE MODELS Naive forecasting models are based exclusively on historical observation of sales or other variables such as earnings and cash flows being forecast. They do not attempt to explain the underlying causal relationships which produce the variable being forecast. Naive models may be classified into two groups. One group consists of simple projection models. These models require inputs of data from recent observations, but no statistical analysis is performed. The second group are made up of models, while naive, are complex enough to require a computer. Traditional methods such as classical decomposition, moving average, and exponential smoothing models are some examples. Advantages: Disadvantages : It is inexpensive to develop, store data, and operate. It does not consider any possible causal relationships that underlie the forecasted variable.
1. A simplest example of a naive model type would be to use the actual sales of the current period as the forecast for the next period. Let us use the symbol Y't+1 as the forecast value and the symbol Yt as the actual value. Then, Y't+1 = Yt 2. If you consider trends, then Y't+1 = Yt + (Yt - Yt-1) This model adds the latest observed absolute period-to-period change to the most recent observed level of the variable. 3. If you want to incorporate the rate of change rather than the absolute amount, then Y't+1 = EXAMPLE 1 Consider the following sales data: Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 20X1 Monthly Sales of Product $3,050 2,980 3,670 2,910 3,340 4,060 4,750 5,510 5,280 5,504 5,810 6,100 Yt Yt ----Yt-1
We will develop forecasts for January 20X2 based on the aforementioned three models: 1. Y't+1 = Yt = $6,100 2. Y't+1 = Yt + (Yt - Yt-1) = $6,100 + ($6,100 - $5,810) = $6,100 + $290 = $6,390 Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 91
3. Y't+1 = Yt
Yt -----Yt-1 = $6,100 (1.05)
$6,100 = $6,100 x -------$5,810 = $6,405
NOTE: The naive models can be applied, with very little need of a computer, to develop forecasts for sales, earnings, and cash flows. They must be compared with more sophisticated models such as the regression method for forecasting efficiency.
MOVING AVERAGES Moving averages are averages that are updated as new information is received. With the moving average, a manager simply employs the most recent observations to calculate an average, which is used as the forecast for the next period. EXAMPLE 2 Assume that the marketing manager has the following sales data. Date Jan. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Actual Sales (Yt) 46 54 53 46 58 49 54
In order to predict the sales for the seventh and eighth days of January, the manager has to pick the number of observations for averaging purposes. Let us consider two cases: one is a six-day moving average and the other is a three-day average (See Figure 2). Case 1 46 + 54 + 53 + 46 + 58 + 49 6 54 + 53 + 46 + 58 + 49 + 54 6
Y'7 =
= 51
Y'8 =
= 52.3
Where Y' = predicted Case 2 Y'7 = Y'8 = 46 + 58 + 49 3 = 51 58 + 49 + 54 3 = 53.6
In terms of weights given to observations, in case 1, the old data received a weight of 5/6, and the current observation got a weight of 1/6. In case 2, the old data received a weight of only 2/3 while the current observation received a weight of 1/3. Thus, the marketing manager's choice of the number of periods to use in a moving average is a measure of the relative importance attached to old versus current data. FIGURE 2 MOVING AVERAGE CALCULATIONS
Advantages and Disadvantages The moving average is simple to use and easy to understand. However, there are two shortcomings. -It requires you to retain a great deal of data and carry it along with you from forecast Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 93
period to forecast period. -All data in the sample are weighted equally. If more recent data are more valid than older data, why not give it greater weight? The forecasting method known as exponential smoothing gets around these disadvantages. EXPONENTIAL SMOOTHING Exponential smoothing is a popular technique for short-run forecasting by financial managers. It uses a weighted average of past data as the basis for a forecast. The procedure gives heaviest weight to more recent information and smaller weights to observations in the more distant past. The reason for this is that the future is more dependent upon the recent past than on the distant past. The method is known to be effective when there is randomness and no seasonal fluctuations in the data. One disadvantage of the method, however, is that it does not include industrial or economic factors such as market conditions, prices, or the effects of competitors' actions. NOTE: Exponential smoothing is known to be effective when there is randomness and no seasonal fluctuations in the data. THE MODEL: The formula for exponential smoothing is: Y't+1 = Yt + ( 1 - ) Y't or in words, Y'new = Y old + (1 - ) Y'old where Exponentially smoothed average to be used as the forecast. Yold = Most recent actual data. Y'old = Most recent smoothed forecast. Smoothing constant. = The higher the , the higher the weight given to the more recent information. Y'new =
EXAMPLE 3 The following data on sales are given below. Time period (t) Actual sales (1000)(Yt) 1 $60.0 2 64.0 3 58.0 4 66.0 5 70.0 6 60.0 Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 94
7 70.0 8 74.0 9 62.0 10 74.0 11 68.0 12 66.0 13 60.0 14 66.0 15 62.0 To initialize the exponential smoothing process, we must have the initial forecast. The first smoothed forecast to be used can be 1. First actual observations. 2. An average of the actual data for a few periods For illustrative purposes, let us use a six-period average as the initial forecast Y'7 with a smoothing constant of = 0.40. Then Y'7 = (Y1 + Y2 + Y3+ Y4 + Y5 + Y6)/6 = (60 + 64 + 58 + 66 + 70 + 60)/6 = 63
Note that Y7 = 70. Then Y'8 is computed as follows: Y'8 = = =

Y7 + (1 - ) Y'7 (0.40)(70) + (0.60)(63) 28.0 + 37.80 = 65.80
Similarly, Y'9 = = =
Y8 + (1 - ) Y'8 (0.40)(74) + (0.60)(65.80) 29.60 + 39.48 = 69.08
and Y'10 = = =
Y9 + (1 - )Y'9 (0.40)(62) + (0.60)(69.08) 24.80 + 41.45 = 66.25
By using the same procedure, the values of Y'11, Y'12, Y'13, Y'14, and Y'15 can be calculated. The following table shows a comparison between the actual sales and predicted sales by the exponential smoothing method. Due to the negative and positive differences between actual sales and predicted sales, the forecaster can use a higher or lower smoothing constant (), in order to adjust his/her prediction as quickly as possible to large fluctuations in the data series. For example, Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 95
if the forecast is slow in reacting to increased sales, (that is to say, if the difference is negative), he/she might want to try a higher value. For practical purposes, the optimal may be picked by minimizing what is known as the mean squared error (MSE), which is the average sum of the variations between the historical sales data and the forecast values for the corresponding periods. MSE = (Yt - Y't)2/ (n - i) Where i = the number of observations used to determine the initial forecast (in our example, i=6). TABLE 1 COMPARISON OF ACTUAL SALES AND PREDICTED SALES Predicted Time period (t) Actual sales (Yt) sales (Y't) 1 $60.0 2 64.0 3 58.0 4 66.0 5 70.0 6 60.0 7 70.0 63.00 8 74.0 65.80 9 62.0 69.08 10 74.0 66.25 11 68.0 69.35 12 66.0 68.81 13 60.0 67.69 14 66.0 64.61 15 62.0 65.17 In our example, MSE = 307.27 / (15 - 6) = 307.27 / 9 = 34.14 The idea is to select the that minimizes MSE. TREND ANALYSIS Trends are the general upward or downward movements of the average over time. These movements may require many years of data to determine or describe them. They can be described by a straight line or a curve. The basic forces underlying the trend include technological advances, productivity changes, inflation, and population change. Trend analysis is a special type of simple regression. This method involves a regression whereby a trend line is fitted to a time series of data. In practice, however, one typically finds linear curves used for business forecasting. LINEAR TREND The linear trend line equation can be shown as Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 96 Difference (Yt - Y't) Difference2 (Yt - Y't)2
7.00 8.20 -7.08 7.75 -1.35 -2.81 -7.69 1.39 -3.17
49.00 67.24 50.13 60.06 1.82 7.90 59.14 1.93 10.05 307.27
Y=a+bt Where t = time. The formula for the coefficients a and b are essentially the same as the cases for simple regression. However, for regression purposes, a time period can be given a number so that t = 0. When there is an odd number of periods, the period in the middle is assigned a zero value. If there is an even number, then -1 and +1 are assigned the two periods in the middle, so that again t = 0. With t = 0, the formula for b and a reduces to the following: n b= n Y a= n tY t2
EXAMPLE 4 Case 1 (odd number) t= Case 2 (even number) t= In each case t = 0. EXAMPLE 5 Consider ABC Company, whose historical sales follows. Year 20X1 20X2 20X3 20X4 20X5 Sales (in millions) $10 12 13 16 17 20X1 -3 20X2 -2 20X3 -1 20X4 +1 20X5 +2 20X6 +3 20X1 -2 20X2 -1 20X3 0 20X4 +1 20X5 +2
Since the company has five years' data, which is an odd number, the year in the middle is assigned a zero value.
Year 20X1 20X2 20X3 20X4 20X5
t -2 -1 0 +1 +2 0
Sales(in millions)(Y) $ 10 12 13 16 17 68 90 = 50 68 a= 5
tY -20 -12 0 16 34 18
t2 4 1 0 1 4 10 = 1.8
Y2 100 144 169 256 289 958
(5)(18) b= (5)(10)
= 13.6
Therefore, the estimated trend equation is Y' = $13.6 + $1.8 t To project 20X6 sales, we assign +3 to the t value for the year 20X6. Y' = = $13.6 + $1.8 (3) $19
ECONOMIC FORECASTING Economic forecasting is typically concerned with predicting future values of key economic variables such as gross domestic product, inflation, interest rates, and unemployment. BAROMETRIC FORECASTING Barometric methods involve the use of economic indicators such as leading indicators to predict turning points in economic activity. It is used primarily to identify potential future changes in general business conditions or conditions of a specific industry rather than conditions for a specific firm. The series chosen serve as barometers of economic change. Types of indicators frequently used are: 1. Coincident indicators: These are the types of economic indicator series that tend to move up and down in line with the aggregate economy and therefore are measures of current economic activity. Examples are Gross Domestic Product (GDP), retail sales, and industrial production. 2. Lagging indicators: These are the economic series of indicators that follow or trail behind aggregate economic activity. There are currently six lagging indicators published by the government comprised of unemployment rate, business expenditures, labor cost per unit, loans outstanding, bank interest rates, and book value of manufacturing and trade inventories. 3. Leading indicators: More exactly known as Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) is the economic series of indicators that tend to predict future changes in economic Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 98
activity; officially called Composite Index of 10 Leading Indicators. This index was designed to reveal the direction of the economy in the next six to nine months. This series is the government's main barometer for forecasting business trends. Each of the series has shown a tendency to change before the economy makes a major turn--hence, the term "leading indicators." The index is designed to forecast economic activity six to nine months ahead (1987=100). The Index consists of 10 indicators, and are subject to revision. For example, petroleum and natural gas prices were found to distort the data from crude material prices and were subsequently dropped from that category. The LEI is found in Business Conditions Digest published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce. If the index is consistently rising, even only slightly, the economy is chugging along and a setback is unlikely. If the indicator drops for three or more consecutive months, look for an economic slowdown and possibly a recession in the next year or so. A rising (consecutive percentage increases in) indicator is bullish for the economy and the stock market, and vice versa. These 10 components of the index are adjusted for inflation. Rarely do these components of the index all go in the same direction at once. Each factor is weighted. The composite figure is designed to tell only in which direction business will go. It is not intended to forecast the magnitude of future ups and downs. As a further tool and aid to understanding business conditions, a series known as diffusion indexes are used. Unlike a composite index such as the LEI, a diffusion index indicates the percentage of economic series that experience increases over the time interval being measured. Often, the 50 percent mark is used as a guide. For example, if more than 50 percent of the leading indicators are rising, it might be plausible to predict an upturn in aggregate economic activity. In a more general sense, however, diffusion indexes can be employed to help measure and interpret the breadth and intensity of recessions and recoveries, the state of economic conditions, and the degree of optimism or pessimism on the part of businessmen. Barometric models have the following limitations: 1. No series accurately signals changes in other economic variables on a consistent basis. 2. It may still indicate only the direction of future change, little or nothing about the magnitude of the change.
ECONOMETRIC MODELS The approach employs statistically based models where relationships among economic variables are expressed in mathematical equations, single or simultaneous in nature and then estimated using such techniques as regression methods. The simplest kind of econometric models would be a single equation, expressing some dependent variable as a function of some other set of variables. For example, gross domestic product (GDP) might be expressed as a function of past GDP (GDP-t), construction activity (C), changes in the unemployment rate (U), and the level of interest rates (I). A linear model expressing this relation is: GDP = a + bGDP-t + cC + dU + eI Some models attempt to capture the complexity of the entire economy; they may contain hundreds of equations that must all be estimated simultaneously. The Wharton model is a good example. Multiple equation systems, however, are difficult and expensive to construct. INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS Input-output analysis, also called inter-industry analysis is the input-output approach to forecasting. It employs historical tabular data on intersectional output and material flows to predict demand and supply changes for individual industries. An input-output matrix table, as shown in Figure 3, is the source of this method. The table is very useful in evaluating the effects of a change in demand in one industry on other industries (i.e., a change in oil prices and its resulting effect on demand for cars, then steel sales, then iron ore and limestone sales). The total requirements table prepared as a part of the input-output table shows the direct, as well as indirect, requirements of each industry listed in the left-hand column (supplying industry) in order to produce one dollars worth of output for the industry identified at the top of each column (producing industry). This table makes it possible to compute the impacts on various industries in the economy which result from changes in the final demand for products of one or more industries. Input-output analysis for forecasting, however, suffers from two major limitations: 1. The development of accurate and updated supplements to the original Commerce Department input-output table is prohibitively expensive. 2. The method is a linear approach to forecasting and thereby fails to capture some possible nonlinear relations.
FIGURE 3 INPUT-OUTPUT TABLE
OPINION POLLING This is a qualitative and subjective method of predicting economic activity or some particular phase of it. The surveys include: 1. Surveys of business executives intentions on what to spend on plant and equipment, made independently by McGraw-Hill, Department of Commerce, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Conference Board. 2. Surveys of consumers finances, buying plans, and confidence, made independently by the University of Michigan and the Conference Board. 3. Surveys of business plans regarding inventory changes, made by the National Association of Purchasing Agents. The surveys seem to do well in forecasting turning points of business, but are not that useful for predicting the magnitude of change. MEASURING ACCURACY OF FORECASTS The performance of a forecast should be checked against its own record or against that of other forecasts. There are various statistical measures that can be used to measure performance of the model. Of course, the performance is measured in terms of forecasting error, where error is defined as the difference between a predicted value and the actual result. Error (e) = Actual (A) - Forecast (F) MEAN SQUARED ERROR (MSE) One commonly used measure for summarizing historical errors is mean squared errors discussed earlier.
THE U STATISTIC There is still a number of statistical measures for measuring accuracy of the forecast. Two standards may be identified. First, one could compare the forecast being evaluated with a naive forecast to see if there are vast differences. The naive forecast can be anything like the same as last year, moving average, or the output of an exponential smoothing technique. In the second case, the forecast may be compared against the outcome when there is enough to do so. The comparison may be against the actual level of the variable forecasted, or the change observed may be compared with the change forecast. The Theil U Statistic is based upon a comparison of the predicted change with the observed change. It is calculated as: U = 1/n (F - A)2 / (1/n) F2 + (1/n) A2 As can be seen, U=0 is a perfect forecast, since the forecast would equal actual and F - A = 0 for all observations. At the other extreme, U=1 would be a case of all incorrect forecasts. The smaller the value of U, the more accurate the forecasts. If U is greater than or equal to 1, the predictive ability of the model is lower than a naive no-change extrapolation. QUESTIONS 1. Discuss the difference between quantitative and qualitative (judgmental) forecasting methods. What circumstances would warrant one over the other? 2. Discuss the role of forecasting in production/operations management. 3. Illustrate, by examples of typical applications, the various types of qualitative forecasting techniques often used. 4. Define a time series. 5. How are moving averages calculated? 6. What is exponential smoothing and when it is most effective? 7. Explain the two popular measures of forecast accuracy. 8. What are the basic steps in forecasting? Discuss each. 9. How are quantitative and judgmental forecasts used together in practice? PROBLEMS 1. Develop a forecast for the next period, given the data below, using a 3-period moving average, Period 1 2 3 4 5 Demand(Yt) 19 20 18 19 17
2. Consider the data below: Period 11 12 13 Demand(Yt) 81 75 82
(a) Determine a naive forecast for period 14. (b) Using exponential smoothing with =.2 and exponentially smoothed forecast for period 12 = 80, what would the forecast for period 14 be? 3. Given the data below, make an appropriate forecast for the following year, using a linear trend line. Period 1 2 3 4 5 Demand(Yt) 110 110 120 140 150
4. The AZ Ice Cream Shoppe has recorded the demand for a particular flavor during the first seven days of August. Date Aug. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Actual Sales (Yt) 56 64 63 56 68 59 64
Predict the sales for the eighth day of August, using (a) a five-day moving average and (b) a three-day average. 5. Develop a forecast for period 6 using an alpha of .4 and period 1 value as the initial forecast.
Period 1 2 3 4 5
Number of customer complaints 45 34 35 42 48
6. The following time series shows the sales of a particular product over the past 12 months: Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Sales 105 135 120 105 90 120 145 140 100 80 100 110
Compute the exponential-smoothing values for the time series and MSE (Assume = .5). 7. Data for total cash collections and credit sales are given below. Cash collections Credit sales (000) omitted) (000 omitted) 4 6 8 7 8 9 6 5 7 8 5 6 a) Fit a linear regression line using the method of least squares. Estimate the cash collections when credit sales is $8. b) Compute the coefficient of determination. c) Does the regression equation need to be improved? 8. The Viacam Manufacturing Company makes a product called Zone. Some of the manufacturing expenses are easily identified as fixed or directly variable with production. Management is confronted with the problem of preparing a budget for the indirect manufacturing costs. The following details are provided for the first 5 months of the past year: Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 104
Month 1 2 3 4 5
Number of Units Indirect Manufacturing Produced X Costs Y 100 $1,000 200 1,250 300 2,250 400 2,500 500 3,750
Determine the cost function using the method of least squares. 9. A consumer product makers marketing manager has developed a linear trend equation that can be used to forecast annual sales of its popular SH shampoo: Y =17,500 + 23,000t (fitted using the data covering the period 1998 - 2004) a) Are annual sales increasing or decreasing? By how much? b) Predict sales for 2005 (Assume the t value assigned for 2001 is zero). 10. The Hume Company, Inc. has recorded the following sales (000 omitted) since its inception in 19M2: 19M2 19M3 19M4 19M5 19M6 19M7 $10 20 30 45 70 90 19M8 19M9 20N0 20N1 20N2 $125 150 180 220 270
a) Calculate 20N3 sales, using the method of least squares. b) Compute the coefficient of determination. c) Comment on the reliability of the estimated sales equation, together with the necessary assumptions if the estimated equation is to be used to predict sales. ANSWERS 1. Quantitative methods are based on the analysis of historical data while qualitative (judgmental) methods depend on expert opinion. Obviously if historical data is unavailable, quantitative cannot be used. Such would be the case with technology forecasts. For such data as sales and costs, quantitative approaches are useful. Quite frequently a combination of the two is used. 2. Forecasts are needed in order to (a) plan resource requirements such as production facilities, (b) work force levels and planning purchases of materials, and (c) for financial planning and capacity planning. 3. Expert opinion - new technologies or new products unlike any currently on the market. Delphi method - space travel, long range economic conditions. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 105
Sales polling or consumer surveys - new products, restaurants, fast food, consumer appliances. 4. A time series is a set of observations measured at successive points in time or over successive periods of time. 5. A moving average is an average of the most recent n data values for any point in time. 6. Exponential smoothing is a weighting of the current actual value and the previous forecast. As such, it is essentially a weighted average of the previous time series values with more emphasis placed on the most recent observations. It is known to be effective when there is randomness and no seasonal fluctuations in the data. 7. Forecast errors are measured by mean absolute deviation (MAD) and mean squared error (MSE). These enable one to quantitatively measure forecast errors. 8. Since quantitative methods are slow to adapt to unexpected changes in the environment, qualitative (judgmental) forecasts are often also used. Quantitative forecasts are frequently modified by judgmental forecasts. 9. (a) Preliminary data analysis of scatter diagram. (b) determination of forecasts choice of method: quantitative and/or judgmental. (c) evaluation and determination of a final forecast - consideration of accuracy and implications of errors, data collection and processing. (d) control and feedback - comparison of actual observations with forecasts. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS 1. (18+19+17)/3 = 18 2. (a) (b) Naive: 82 Y'13 = Y12 + (1 - ) Y'12=(0.2)(75) + (0.8)(80) = 79 Y'14 = Y13 + (1 - ) Y'13 = (0.20)(82) + (0.80)(79) = 16.4 + 63.2 = 79.6
3. Time 1 2 3 4 5 t -2 -1 0 1 2 0 Demand Y 110 110 120 140 150 630 tY -220 -110 0 140 300 110 t2 4 1 0 1 4 10
b = 5(110)/5(10) = 11 a = 630/5 =126 Y = 126 + 11 t = 126 + 11(3) = 159 (For period 6, t = 3) Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 106
4. (a) using a five-day moving average Y'8 = where Y' = predicted (b) Using a three-day average. Y'8 = 5. Period 1 2 3 4 5 Number of customer complaints 45 34 35 42 48 Forecast = Y't+1 = Yt + ( 1 - ) Y't 45 .4(34)+.6(45)=40.6 .4(35)+.6(40.6)=38.4 .4(42)+.6(38.4)=39.8 68 + 59 + 64 3 = 63.6 63 + 56 + 68 + 59 + 64 5 = 62
For period 6: .4(48)+.6(39.8) =43.1 6. Error Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Sales 105 135 120 105 90 120 145 140 100 80 100 110 Forecast 105 .5(135)+.5(105)=120 .5(120)+.5(120)=120 .5(105)+.5(120)=112.50 .5( 90)+.5(112.5)=101.25 .5(120)+.5(101.25)=110.63 .5(145)+.5(110.63)=127.81 .5(140)+.5(127.81)=133.91 .5(100)+.5(133.91)=116.95 .5( 80)+.5(116.95)= 98.48 .5(100)+.5( 98.48)= 99.24 Error 30 0 -15 -22.5 18.75 34.37 12.19 -33.91 -36.95 1.52 10.76 Squared 900 0 225 506.25 351.56 1181.30 148.60 1149.89 1365.30 2.31 115.78 5945.99
MSE = e2 / (n - 1)= 5945.99/(12 -1) = 540.54
7. a) Y 4 8 8 6 7 5 $38 b= a= X 6 7 9 5 8 6 41 XY 24 56 72 30 56 30 268 X2 36 49 81 25 64 36 291 = Y2 16 64 64 36 49 25 254 50 = 0.77 65
(6)(268) - (41)(38) (6)(291) - (41)(41) 38/6 - (0.77)(41/6) = 1.07
The estimated regression equation is Y' = $1.07 + $0.77X Where Y' = estimated cash collections and X = credit sales The estimated cash collection for credit sales of $8 will be Y' = $1.07 + $0.77(8) = $7.23 b) r2 = = (50)2 (65)[(6)(254)-(38)2] 48% Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 108 = = 2,500 5,200 = 0.48
Which means that the credit sales account for only 48 percent of the change in cash collections. c) The answer is yes. A low r2 (48 percent) indicates that credit sales was not good enough to fully explain the behavior of cash collections. 52 percent is still unexplained by the estimated equation. Often factors like interest rates may be responsible for part of the variation in cash collections.
8. X 100 200 300 400 500 1,500 From the table: n = 5 X = 1,500 Y = 10,750 XY = 3,900,000 Y $1,000 1,250 2,250 2,500 3,750 10,750 XY $ 100,000 250,000 675,000 1,000,000 1,875,000 3,900,000
X2 10,000 40,000 90,000 160,000 250,000 550,000
X2 = 550,000
Substituting these values into the formula for b first: nXY - (X)(Y) b= ----------------nX2 - (X)2 = (5)(3,900,000) - (1,500)(10,75 0) ------------------------------(5)(550,000) - (1,500)2 3,375,000 = --------500,000
= a=
6.75 (Y/n) - b (X/n) = 10,750/5 - (6.75)(1,500/5) = $125
Thus, the regression equation is $125 + $6.75 X 9. (a) Annual sales are increasing by $23,000 per year. (b) Note that the t value for the year 2005 is 4. Hence, Y = 17,500 + 23,000 (4) = $109,500.
10. a) For regression purposes, a year can be given a number so that the X = 0. Since the company has 11 years data, which is an odd number, the year in the middle is assigned a zero value. Sales Y X (000 omitted) XY X2 Y2 Year 19M2 -5 $ 10 -50 25 100 19M3 -4 $ 20 -80 16 400 19M4 -3 $ 30 -90 9 900 19M5 -2 $ 45 -90 4 2,025 19M6 -1 $ 70 -70 1 4,900 19M7 0 $ 90 0 0 8,100 19M8 +1 $ 125 125 1 15,625 19M9 +2 $ 150 300 4 22,500 20N0 +3 $ 180 540 9 32,400 20N1 +4 $ 220 880 16 48,400 1,350 25 72,900 20N2 +5 $ 270 0 $1,210 2,815 110 208,250 b= a= (11)(2,815) (11)(110) 1,210 11 = = 30,965 1,210 $110 = $25.59
Therefore, the estimated equation is: Y' = $110 + $25.59X where Y' = estimated sales and X = year index value. To calculate 20N3 sales, we assign +6 to the X value for the year 20N3. Thus, Y' = $110 + $25.59(+6) = $263.54. b) r2 = (30,965)2 (1,210)[(11)(208,250) (1,210)2] = 0.958
c) The high r2 (0.958) ensures that annual sales shows an increasing trend.
CHAPTER 5 QUIZ 1. Barometric forecasting uses econometric models. TRUE / FALSE 2. The moving-average method of forecasting A. Is a cross-sectional forecasting method. B. Includes each new observation in the average as it becomes available and discards the oldest observation. C. Regresses the variable of interest on a related variable to develop a forecast. D. Derives final forecasts by adjusting the initial forecast based on the smoothing constant. 3. As part of a risk analysis, a sales manager wishes to forecast the percentage growth in next months sales for a particular plant using the past 30 months sales results. Significant changes in the firm affecting sales volumes were made within the last 9 months. The most effective analysis technique to use would be A. Unweighted moving average. B. Queuing theory. C. Exponential smoothing. D. Linear regression analysis.
CHAPTER 5 ANSWER KEY 1. (F) is correct. Barometric forecasting utilizes three types of economic indicators: leading, coincident, and lagging. It does not use associative methods such as regression or econometric methods. (T) is incorrect. Barometric forecasting utilizes three types of economic indicators: leading, coincident, and lagging. 2. (B) is correct. With the moving average, a manager simply employs the most recent observations to calculate an average, which is used as the forecast for the next period. (A) is incorrect. Cross-sectional regression analysis examines relationships among large amounts of data (e.g., many or different production methods or locations) at a particular moment in time. (C) is incorrect. Regression analysis relates the forecast to changes in particular variables. (D) is incorrect. Under exponential smoothing, each forecast equals the sum of the last observation times the smoothing constant, plus the last forecast times one minus the constant. 3. (C) is correct. Exponential smoothing is a popular technique for short-run forecasting by financial managers. It uses a weighted average of past data as the basis for a forecast. The formula for exponential smoothing is: Y't+1 = Yt + ( 1 - ) Y't or in words, Y'new = Y old + (1 - ) Y'old Exponentially smoothed average to be used as the forecast. where Y'new = Yold = Most recent actual data. Y'old = Most recent smoothed forecast. = Smoothing constant. The higher the , the higher the weight given to the more recent information. (A) is incorrect. An un-weighted average will not give more importance to more recent data. (B) is incorrect. Queuing theory is used to minimize the cost of waiting lines. (D) is incorrect. Linear regression analysis determines the equation
CHAPTER 6 THEORY OF PRODUCTION LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. Interpret and explain the returns to scale. 2. Explain and illustrate the production function. 3. Give examples of the linear production function. 4. Identify and explain the Leontief production function. 5. Demonstrate the Cobb-Douglas production. 6. Compute the total product. 7. Calculate and explain the average product. 8. Demonstrate and discuss marginal product. 9. Illustrate the marginal revenue product. 10. Express and illustrate the marginal rate of technical substitution. 11. Demonstrate the concept of output elasticity. 12. Explain and give example of the optimal employment rule. Managements production decision problems may be considered to fall into the following four types: 1. 2. 3. 4. How much, in total, shall be spent on the purchase of inputs? How shall this amount be divided among the various types of inputs? How much of each type of input will be allocated to each type of output? How much of each final product shall the firm produce?
PRODUCTION FUNCTION The production function is an engineering relation that defines the maximum amount of output that can be produced with a given set of inputs. Mathematically, the production function is denoted as: Q = F(L, K) where Q = the maximum amount of output, K = capital, and L = labor. The function can take many different forms. LINEAR PRODUCTION FUNCTION The linear production function assumes a perfect linear relationship between all inputs and total output: Q = aK + bL
EXAMPLE 1 Given Q = 3K + 4L, if 9 units of capital and 4 units of labor are employed, the total output will be 43 units: Q = 3(9) + 4(4) = 43. LEONTIEF PRODUCTION FUNCTION Also called the fixed-proportions production function, the Leontief production function assumes that inputs are used in fixed proportions. It is given by Q = min {aK , bL} EXAMPLE 2 Given Q = min {3K ,4 L} , if 5 units of capital and 4 units of labor are employed, the total output will be 15 units: Q = min {3(5),4(4)} = min { 15,16} = 16. Note the minimum of the numbers 15 and 16 is 15. COBB-DOUGLAS PRODUCTION FUNCTION The Cobb-Douglas production function is between the extremes of the linear production function and the Leontief production function. Unlike the linear function, the relationship between output and the inputs is not linear. Unlike the Leontief function, inputs need not be used in fixed proportions. The form is: Q = KaLb. EXAMPLE 3 Given Q = K1/2L1/2, if 4 units of labor and 9 units of capital are employed, the total output will be 6 units: Q = (9)1/2(4)1/2 = (3)(2) = 6. NOTE: There are many other forms for production function, including constant elasticity of substitution (CES) function, which is not covered here. MEASURES OF PRODUCTIVITY A useful consideration that needs to be taken into account in business decision making is the determination of the productivity of inputs in the production process. Productivity measures are useful for evaluating the efficiency of a production process and in making input decisions that yield maximum profits. The three important measures of productivity are total product, average product, and marginal product. TOTAL PRODUCT Total product (TP) is the maximum level of output that can be obtained with given inputs.
EXAMPLE 4 A garage door maker has the following production function: Q = .2K2 + .3KL + .4L2 Assume a weekly rate of use where L = 100 labor hours and K = 30 machine hours. The total product per week is Q = .2(30)2 + .3(30)(100) + .4(100)2 = 180 + 900 + 4,000 = 5,080 units. AVERAGE PRODUCT The average product (AP) is the total amount of output divided by the amount of the input used to produce a given amount of output. The average product of labor (APL) is equal to total product (TP) divided by the amount of labor (L) used in the production of output (Q): APL = Q/L. Similarly, the average product of capital (APK) is: APK = Q/K EXAMPLE 5 From Example 4: Q = .2K2 + .3KL + .4L2 and L = 100 labor hours and K = 30 machine hours. APL = Q/L = .2K2/L + .3K + .4L = .2(30)2/100 + .3(30) + .4(100) = 180 + 9 + 40 = 229 units. APK = Q/K =.2K + .3 L + .4L2/K = .2(30) + .3(100) + .4(100)2/(30) = 6 + 30 + 133.33 = 169.33 units. MARGINAL PRODUCT The marginal product (MP) of an input is the change in the quantity of output resulting from a one unit change in the quantity of input used. Thus, the marginal product of labor (MPL) is Q/L = dQ/dL and the marginal product of capital (MPK) is Q/K= dQ/dK EXAMPLE 6 From Example 4: Q = .2K2 + .3KL + .4L2 MPL = Q/L = .3K + .8L = .3(30) + .8(100) = 89 MPK = Q/K = .4K + .3L = .4(30) + .3(100) = 42 RELATIONSHIP AMONG TOTAL PRODUCT, MARGINAL PRODUCT, AND AVERAGE PRODUCT. The profit-oriented firm is deeply interested in how its output will vary with respect to the quantity used of an input. The reason is that such information is essential for determining the profit-maximizing level of output. Figure 1 shows graphically the relationship among total Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 115
product, marginal product, and average product. We observe that a) As the usage of an input increases, MP initially increases (increasing marginal returns), then begins to decline (decreasing marginal returns), and eventually becomes negative (negative marginal returns). b) AP increases when MP > AP; otherwise, MP<AP. From 0 to 3 units of variable input, the quantity of output increases at an increasing rate and the MP function is rising. Such behavior of output denotes increasing returns to input. Diminishing marginal returns begin at point A. Between 3 and 7 units of variable input, output increases at a decreasing rate. Because MP is a positive yet diminishing value, this portion of the production function reflects decreasing returns to input. Output is maximum at 7 units of input and MP, being equal to the slope of the production function, is zero. Beyond 7 units of input, input is present in uneconomic proportions relative to the available fixed input; the marginal products of additional units of input are negative and negative returns to input are encountered. The AP of input reaches its maximum value at that point where a ray drawn from the origin is just tangent to the production function. The MP function passes through the apex of the AP product function.
FIGURE 1 GRAPHICAL RELATIONSHIP AMONG TOTAL PRODUCT, MARGINAL PRODUCT, AND AVERAGE PRODUCT
MARGINAL REVENUE PRODUCT Marginal revenue product (MRP) is the net addition to total revenue attributable to the addition of one unit of the variable productive service or the dollar value of the marginal product (MP) of an input. The marginal revenue product (MRP) of an input is equal to MP multiplied by the MR of the commodity. OPTIMAL EMPLOYMENT RULE A profit-maximizing firm will employ units of a variable productive service until the point is reached at which the MRP of an input is exactly equal to the input price. Marginal revenue product of the input (MRPi) = Price of an input (Pi) For example, an optimal employment rule is: Marginal revenue product of labor (MRPL) = price of labor (w), assuming that the firm is a wage-taker.
NOTE: We defined profit maximization as requiring that MR = MC. This was looking at the matter from the output side. From the input side, we note MRP = P. The two rules are logically identical. They are simply different ways of stating the maximum-profit condition. ISOQUANT Also known as producers' indifference curve, or isoproduct curve, an isoquant curve traces out the combinations of any two or more inputs which give rise to the same level of output (see Figure 2). These combinations must be the most efficient ones (i.e. any point on an isoproduct curve shows the minimum quantities of the inputs needed to produce the given output). Isoproduct curves are typically drawn as being convex to the origin because of the assumed substitutability of inputs. MARGINAL RATE OF TECHNICAL SUBSTITUTION Marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTS) is the rate that measures the reduction in one input per unit increase in the other that is just sufficient to maintain a constant level of output. The marginal rate of technical substitution of labor and capital (MRTSLK) at a point on an isoquant is equal to the absolute value of the slope of the isoquant at that point. It is also equal to the ratio of the marginal products: MRTSLK = MPK/MPL
FIGURE 2 ISOQUANTS
SUBSTITUTABILITY OF INPUTS There are three general types of shapes of an isoquant, as shown in Figure 3. In panel (a), the isoquants are right angles indicating that inputs a and b are not substitutable (or perfect complements). In this case, one particular combination of inputs is required to produce a specified level of output. Output cannot rise without increased quantities of both inputs. An example of this would be tires and a battery for an automobile. In this case, the MRTS will be zero, since when an additional unit of input a is used, there is no amount of input b that can be given up if a given level of output is to be maintained. The other extreme case is where inputs a and b are perfect substitutes, as shown in panel (b). In this case inputs can be substituted for each other at a fixed rate while the firm maintains the same level of output. The isoquant will be a straight line and have a constant slope and MRTS. Natural gas and fuel oil are considered close substitutes in energy production. Panel (c) depicts, however, the most common case where inputs are imperfect substitutes. They can be substituted for each other at changing rates. In other words, the rate at which one input can be given up in return for one more unit of another input while maintaining the same level of output diminishes as the amount of input a being used increases. That is, the MRTS diminishes. In general, capital and labor are imperfect substitutes.
NOTE: The choice of which input combination to use is easy in the first two cases -panel (a) and (b). In the first case, no input combination decision can be made. In the second case, the decision is in favor of cheaper input. We tend to concentrate our discussion on the case of inputs that are imperfect substitutes whose MRTS is diminishing.
THE STAGES OF PRODUCTION Typically, there are three stages of production of special significance for analyzing the efficiency with which resource inputs are used (See Figure 4). A production function that exhibits the qualities of increasing, decreasing, and negative returns can be separated into three stages. Stage I covers the entire range of increasing returns to variable input and the point of diminishing marginal returns (DMR) is reached (Point A) and passed. It ends when the point of diminishing average return (DAR) is reached (point B). Stage II covers the portion where the quantity of output rises at a decreasing rate; accordingly, the marginal product (MP) of variable input is declining, although it is still positive. Stage III coincides with the range of input where additional usage of variable inputs is associated with the decline in output but MP is negative.
FIGURE 3 SUBSTITUTABILITY OF INPUTS
FIGURE 4 THREE STAGES OF PRODUCTION
ISOCOST CURVE An isocost curve is a curve or line showing the combinations of any inputs (e.g., labor and capital) that can be bought with a fixed sum of money. It is analogous with the consumer's budget line, but relates to the firm's purchase of inputs. The total cost of inputs is: wL + rK = C Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 122
Where w = the wage rate (the price of labor) and r = interest rate (the price of capital). This equation can be converted into the formula for an isocost line as follows: K = C/r - (w/r)L Thus, along an isocost line, K is a linear function of L with a vertical intercept of C/r and a slope of -w/r. The varying values of C will create isocost lines that are parallel to each other. EXPANSION PATH An expansion path is a graphical device used to illustrate the amount of capital and labor that a firm will use as it expands its operations. The optimum combination is at the point of tangency between the isoquant and the isocost line. The expansion path is then determined by the locus of these tangents between isoquants and isocost lines. With reference to the firm, that is the curve traced out by joining up the factor input choices at each output level. For given input prices, the curve indicates what the firm's chosen path of expansion (points A, B, C in Figure 5) will be in terms of factor input combinations. With a cost-minimizing firm any point on this curve will satisfy the condition that the ratio of the marginal physical product of any two factor input will equal the ratio of their prices . COST MINIMIZATION - COST-MINIMIZING INPUT RULE The tangency of the isocost curve with the isoproduct curve defines the least-cost (optimal) combination of inputs for the production of a given level of output. For a least-cost combination of inputs, the following condition has to hold: MPL -------w = MPK ------r
Which states that to minimize the cost of producing a given level of output, the marginal product per dollar spent should be equal for all inputs. Alternatively, a firm should employ inputs such that the marginal rate of technical substitution is equal to the ratio of input prices. MPL/MPK = w/r EXAMPLE 7 A grower of strawberries estimates that strawberry output would increase 2,500 per month with an additional 1,000 gallons of water per month provided by an irrigation system. Alternatively, strawberry output could be increased by 1,000 with an additional 2 tons of fertilizer per month. Assuming the cost of water is $.05 per gallon and that fertilizer is $20 per ton, is the farm using an optimal combination of water and fertilizer? For a least-cost combination of inputs, the following condition has to hold: Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 123
MPL -------w
MPK ------r
MPW = 2500 and MPF = 1,000 PW = 1000 gallons per month x $.05 per gallon = $50 per month PF = 2 tons per month x $20 per ton = $40 per month Therefore, 2,500 1,000 -----= ---50 40 No, 50> 25, which is not a least cost combination of inputs since output per additional dollar spent is greater for water than for fertilizer. FIGURE 5 ISOQUANTS, ISO-COST CURVES AND EXPANSION PATH
RETURNS TO SCALE The returns to scale of a production system represents the increase in output arising from a proportionate increase in all inputs. It refers to how output changes when all inputs are increased by the same multiple. There are three possibilities: increasing, constant, and decreasing returns to scale. If output increases by a greater multiple than that by which the inputs are increased, then increasing returns to scale are present. In the long run, a firm may experience increasing returns due to economies of scale. Economies Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 124
and diseconomies of scale affect a company's costs. When it experiences economies of scale, a company's long-run average costs will decrease. Diseconomies of scale occur when the long-run average costs increase. Economies or diseconomies of scale do not apply in the short run because many costs are fixed. In the long run, all costs are variable. If output increases by the same multiple, constant returns to scale are present. Finally, if output increases by a smaller multiple, decreasing returns to scale are present. Returns to scale play an important role in economic decisions. They affect the optimal scale, or plant size of a firm and its production facilities. They also affect the nature of competition in an industry and thus are important in determining the profitability in a particular sector of the economy. Returns to scale Increasing return to scale Constant return to scale Decreasing return to scale Condition Percentage increase in output > percentage increase in inputs Percentage increase in output = percentage increase in inputs Percentage increase in output < percentage increase in inputs
Returns to scale can be evaluated in a number of ways, including the following: 1. Compare the percentage increase in output with any given percentage increase in inputs. 2. Use a more general algebraic approach. EXAMPLE 8 Given the production function Q = 10L + 15K + 20KL (a) If L=K=100, then Q1 = 10(100) + 15(100) + 20(100)(100) = 202,500 Increase each unit by one percent yields: Q2= 10(101) + 15(101) + 20(101)(101) = 206,545, which implies a 2 percent increase in output (Q2/ Q1 = 1.02), and therefore, the function exhibits increasing returns to scale. (b) Alternatively, for a k percent inures in all inputs (where k > 1) we observe: Q1 = 10L + 15K + 20KL Q2 = 10L + 15K + 20KL = 10(kL) + 15(kK) + 20(kL)(kK) = k (10L + 15K + 20kKL). Since k > 1, Q2 > Q1. So the function exhibits increasing returns to scale. OUTPUT ELASTICITY AND RETURNS TO SCALE The output elasticity measures how sensitive output is to a change in an input used. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 125
It is calculated as: % change in Q --------------= % change in X

Q ----X
eQ =
X ------Q
Where X represents all inputs (capital, labor, etc.). This measure can also be used to estimate returns to scale, based on the following criteria: Output elasticity eQ > 1 eQ = 1 eQ < 1 Returns to scale Increasing Constant Decreasing
QUESTIONS 1. Give several different forms of production function. 2. How does the Cobb-Douglas function differ from other forms? 3. What is marginal revenue product (MRP)? What is its significance in profit maximization? 4. Briefly describe three stages of production. 5. What is output elasticity? How is it calculated? 6. Describe the graphical relationship between marginal product and average product. 7. State the condition for the least-cost (optimal) combination of inputs. 8. Give two examples of perfect substitutes. 9. If inputs are not substitutable, there is no decision made on input combination. Comment. PROBLEMS 1. Anaheim Company, a film processor, has the following production function: Q = .5K2 + .3KL + .4L2 Assume a weekly rate of use where L = 100 labor hours and K = 30 film developing hours. Determine the following: (a) The total product per week. (b) The marginal product of labor. (c) The marginal product of capital. 2. John-Jay Opticals, Inc., a maker of optical supplies estimated the following production function: Q = 20L.75K.30 Where Q = plastic cases produced per eight-hour shift, L = units of labor, and K = units of capital employed. (a) Calculate the number of plastic cases completed per eight-hour shift when L = 10 and Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 126
K = 100. (b) Calculate the marginal product of labor when L = 10 and K = 100. 3. Ding-Dong Farms, Inc. is a grower of oranges. The company estimates that orange output would increase 1,500 per month with an additional 1,000 gallons of water per month provided by an irrigation system. Alternatively, orange output could be increased by 900 with an additional 2 tons of fertilizer per month. Assuming the cost of water is $.06 per gallon and that fertilizer is $25 per ton, is the farm using an optimal combination of water and fertilizer? Why or why not? 4. Agasi Farms, Inc. is a grower of pears. The company estimates that pear output would increase 1,200 per month with an additional 1,000 gallons of water per month provided by an irrigation system. Alternatively, pear output could be increased by 1000 with an additional 2 tons of fertilizer per month. Assuming the cost of water is $.06 per gallon and that fertilizer is $25 per ton, is the farm using an optimal combination of water and fertilizer? Why or why not? 5. ABC has the following production function: Q = 12KL + .7KL2 - 1/30KL3 Determine the following: (a) The maximum output that can be produced when K =5. (b) The level of use of L where average product of labor (APL) is at a maximum. (c) The output level where diminishing returns to L occurs. 6. The Southwestern Mining Company has developed the following production function for it coal output: Q = 250L0.5K0.6 (a) Determine returns to scale and comment on it. (b) Determine returns to scale for each factor input. 7. The Nova Coal Mining Company has developed the following production function for it coal output: Q = 300L0.5K0.5 Where Q = Coal output (in thousands of tons), L = Labor (in hundreds of workers), and K = Capital ( in hundreds of millions of dollars). At peak production, the company is expected to employ 10,000 workers and require $900 million in capital outlays. Coal output is sold at a competitive market price of $40 per ton. (a) Determine the maximum annual wage the company would be willing to pay in order to attract a force of 10,000 workers. (b) How many workers would the company willingly hire in view of union demands for a $20,000 annual wage? 8. The total product of labor (per hour) for a firm is given by: Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 127
Q = 30L - .5L2 (a) Determine the marginal product of labor. (b) How many workers should the firm employ if the wage rate is $30 per hour and the marginal revenue product is $24? ANSWERS 1. Examples are linear production function, Leontief production function, and Cobb-Douglas production function. 2. The Cobb-Douglas production function is between the extremes of the linear production function and the Leontief production function. Unlike the linear function, the relationship between output and the inputs is not linear. Unlike the Leontief function, inputs need not be used in fixed proportions. 3. Marginal revenue product (MRP) is the net addition to total revenue attributable to the addition of one unit of the variable productive service or the dollar value of the marginal product (MP) of an input. The MRP of an input is equal to MP multiplied by the market price of the commodity. A profit-maximizing firm will employ units of a variable productive service until the point is reached at which the MRP of an input is exactly equal to the input price. 4. Three stages of production are of special significance for analyzing the efficiency with which resource inputs are used. Stage I covers the entire range of increasing returns to variable input and the point of diminishing marginal returns (DMR) is reached (Point A) and passed. It ends when the point of diminishing average return (DAR) is reached (point B). Stage II covers the portion where the quantity of output rises at a decreasing rate; accordingly, the marginal product (MP) of variable input is declining, although it is still positive. Stage III coincides with the range of input where additional usage of variable inputs is associated with the decline in output but MP is negative. 5. The output elasticity measures how sensitive output is to a change in an input used. It is calculated as: X % change in Q Q eQ = --------------= ----. ------% change in X Q X where X represents all inputs (capital, labor, etc.). This measure can also be used to estimate returns to scale. 6. (1) As the usage of an input increases, MP initially increases (increasing marginal returns), then begin to decline (decreasing marginal returns), and eventually becomes negative (negative marginal returns). (2) As long as MR increases MP > AP; otherwise, MP<AP. 7. The tangency of the isocost curve with the isoproduct curve defines the least-cost (optimal) combination of inputs for the production of a given level of output. For a least-cost combination of inputs, the following condition has to hold: MPW/ PW = MPF/ PF 8. In the area of baking, honey and brown sugar are often nearly perfect substitutes. 9. The statement is true. For example, an auto requires one engine, one battery, and four wheels; no other combination will do. Another example would be yeast and flour for a Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 128
specified bread. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS 1. (a) Q = .5(30)2 + .3(30)(100) + .4(100)2 = 450 + 900 + 4000 = 5350 (b) MPL = Q/L = .3K + .8L = .3(30) + .8(100) = 89 (c) MPK = Q/K = K + .3L = (30) + .2(100) = 50 2. (a) Q = 20L.75K.30 = 20(10).75(100).30 = 20(5.623)(3.981) = 447.70 plastic cases (b) MPL = Q/L = (20)(.75)L-.25 K.30 = 33.58 3. For a least-cost combination of inputs, the following condition has to hold: MPL -----w MPK ----r
MPW = 1500 and MPF = 900 PW = 1000 gallons per month x $.06 per gallon = $60 per month PF = 2 tons per month x $25 per ton = $50 per month Therefore, 1500 900 ----= --60 50 No, 25> 18, which is not a least cost combination of inputs since output per additional dollar spent is greater for water than for fertilizer. 4. MPW = 1200 and MPF = 1000 PW = 1000 gallons per month x $.06 per gallon = $60 per month PF = 2 tons per month x $25 per ton = $50 per month Therefore, 1200 1000 ---= ---60 50 Yes, 20 = 20, which is a least cost combination of inputs since output per additional dollar spent is equal for both water than for fertilizer. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 129
5. (a) Q = 12KL + .7KL2 - .3KL3 at K = 5, TPL = 12(5)L + .7(5)L2 - 1/30(5)L3 = 60L + 3.5L2 - 1/6L3 Setting MPL equal to zero yields: MPL = Q/L = 60 + 7L - .5L2 = 0; (-.5L + 10)(L + 6) = 0 So L = 20 (Ignore L = -6) is a maximum since 2Q/L2 = 7 - L = 8 - 20 = -12 < 0. The maximum output then is 1267 units: At L = 20, TPL = 60L + 3.5L2 - 1/6L3 = 60(20) = 3.5(20)2 - 1/6(20)3 = 1267. (b) TPL = 60L + 3.5L2 - 1/6L3 APL = TPL/L= (60L + 3.5L2 - 1/6L3)/L = 60 + 3.5L - 1/6L2 To find the maximum APL, we set this equal to zero and solve for L, as follows: dAPL/dL = 3.5 - 1/3L = 0; L = 10.5, which is a maximum since d2APL/dL2 = -1/3 < 0. The output level where APL is maximized is 823 units: TPL = 60L + 3.5(10.5)2 - 1/6(10.5)3 = 823. (c) Diminishing marginal returns begin where MPL is maximized. MPL = Q/L = 60 + 7L - .5L2 dMPL/dL = 7 - L = 0; L = 7, which is a maximum since d2MPL/dL2 = -1 < 0. So at L = 7, TPL = 60L + 3.5L2 - 1/6L3 = 60(7) + 3.5(7)2 - 1/6(7)3 = 534. Diminishing marginal returns to the labor input begin where output is 534 units. 6. (a) Q = 250L0.5K0.6 = 250(kL)0.5(kK)0.6 = k0.5k0.6 250L0.5K0.6 = k1.1 Q, i.e., k1.1 > k, indicates that the above production function exhibits increasing returns to scale. (b) Returns to each factor can be determined by examining how each marginal product changes with increased usage. Returns to Labor: MPL = Q/L = 125L-0.5K0.6; d2MPL/dL2 = -62.5 L-1.5K0.6 < 0. Therefore, returns to labor are decreasing. Returns to Capital: MPK = Q/K = 125L0.5K-0.4, d2MPL/dL2 = -50L0.5K-1.4 < 0. Therefore, returns to labor are decreasing. 7. (a) We use the optimal employment rule: Price of an input (Pi) = Marginal revenue product of the input (MRPi) For labor, Price of labor = marginal revenue product of labor, or PL = = = = MPL x MRQ (150L-.5K.5)($40 x 1,000 tons) [150(100)-.5(9).5]($40 x 1,000 tons) $1,800,000 per hundred workers, or $18,000.
(b) PL = MPL x MRQ $20,000 x 100 = (150L-.5K.5)($40 x 1,000 tons) $2,000,000 = [150L-.5 (9).5]($40 x 1,000 tons) $2,000,000 = [150L-.5 (9).5]($40 x 1,000 tons) $2,000,000/ $18,000,000 = 150L-.5 $2,000,000/ $18,000,000 = 1/L.5 L.5 = 9 L = 81 0r, 8,100 workers. Thus, at a wage of $20,000, the company would only be willing to hire 8,100 workers. 8. (a) MPL = Q/L = 30 - L (b) Using the optimal employment rule, PL = MPL x MRQ $30 = (30 - L) x $24 $30 = $720 - $24L L = 23 The firm should hire 23 workers per hour.
CHAPTER 6 QUIZ 1. In the long run, a firm may experience increasing returns due to A. Law of diminishing returns. B. Opportunity costs. C. Comparative advantage. D. Economies of scale. 2. Economies and diseconomies of scale are important determinants of the A. Type of product demand faced by individual firms. B. Market demand curve. C. Pattern of costs in the long run. D. Law of diminishing returns. 3. Kingsley Technologies has always used 100 units of labor and 100 units of capital to produce 10 keyboards. Recently, Kingsley has decided to double both inputs. This increase in production has resulted in increasing the outputs from 10 units to 18 units. Kingsley is experiencing A. Increasing returns. B. Decreasing returns. C. Economies of scale. D. Constant returns. 4. UC Co. employs inputs that have a marginal product of labor of 10 and a price of labor equal to $5. UCs inputs also have a marginal price of capital of 45 and a price of capital of $15. Assuming the firm wishes to maximize profits, UC should A. Use more labor and less capital. B. Use less labor and less capital. C. Use less labor and more capital. D. Make no change in resource use.
CHAPTER 6 ANSWER KEY 1, (D) is correct. In a competitive market, equilibrium exists when demand is exactly equal to supply. If both demand and supply increase in equal amounts, the market will still be in equilibrium, but the new price may be higher, lower, or unchanged depending upon the slopes of the demand and supply curves. Whatever the new price, the quantity of products cleared by the market should increase. (A) is incorrect. Under the law of diminishing returns, if increasing amounts of a variable input are applied to a fixed input, there is some point beyond which additional units of the variable input will contribute less and less to the total output. (B) is incorrect. An opportunity cost is the benefit forgone by not choosing the next best use of a scarce resource. (C) is incorrect. The principle of comparative advantage states that world output is maximized when each output is produced by the nation with the lower opportunity cost. 2. (C) is correct. Economies and diseconomies of scale affect a company's costs. When it experiences economies of scale, a company's long-run average costs will decrease. Diseconomies of scale occur when the long-run average costs increase. Economies or diseconomies of scale do not apply in the short run because many costs are fixed. In the long run, all costs are variable. (A) is incorrect. Economies or diseconomies of scale affects a firms costs. (B) is incorrect. Economies or diseconomies of scale do not affect the demand curve. (D) is incorrect. The law of diminishing returns describes the short-run phenomenon in which, beyond some point, increasing amounts of a variable input will contribute less and less to the total product. 3. (B) is correct. When output increases at a smaller percentage than inputs, the firm is experiencing decreasing returns to scale, or diseconomies of scale. (A) is incorrect. Returns are decreasing when output does not rise as fast as inputs. (C) is incorrect. The firm is experiencing diseconomies of scale. (D) is incorrect. Returns are not constant when a doubling of inputs results in less than a doubling of output. 4. (C) is correct. The firm should use less labor and more capital because capital offers a Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 133
greater marginal product per dollar (45 $15 = 3 per dollar) than does labor (10 $5 = 2 per dollar). (A) is incorrect. Labor is too costly relative to capital. (B) is incorrect. A reduction in both inputs would reduce profits. (D) is incorrect. An increased use of capital would increase profits.
CHAPTER 7 MULTIPLE PRODUCT PLANNING AND LINEAR PROGRAMMING LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. Define linear programming (LP). 2. Understand and discuss objective function. 3. Give examples of constraints. 4. Illustrate non-negativity constraints. 5. Define and give example of a feasible solution. 6. Discuss and illustrate the basic feasible solution. 7. Compute and define the optimal solution. 8. Give examples of dual problems. 9. Explain and give examples of the shadow price. 10. Explain what the slack variable. 11. Illustrate and discuss binding constraints. 12. Explain the complementary slackness condition. 13. Demonstrate and explain the uses of activity analysis. 14. Outline and explain the process ray. 15. Illustrate the isoprofit curve. Linear programming (LP) is a mathematical technique designed to determine an optimal decision (or an optimal plan) chosen from a large number of possible decisions. The optimal decision is the one that meets the specified objective of the company, subject to various restrictions or constraints. It concerns itself with the problem of allocating scarce resources among competing activities in an optimal manner. The optimal decision yields the highest profit, contribution margin (CM), or revenue, or the lowest cost. A linear programming model consists of two important ingredients: 1. Objective function. The company must define the specific objective to be achieved. 2. Constraints. Constraints are in the form of restrictions on availability of resources or meeting minimum requirements. As the name linear programming indicates, both the objective function and constraints must be in linear form. NOTE: The classical calculus methods, such as the Lagrangean multiplier technique, are not well suitable for obtaining optimal solutions to problems with inequality constraints. LP deals with constrained optimization problems with linear objective functions and linear inequality constraints, while differential calculus and the Lagrangean multiplier technique deal with problems involving linear or nonlinear objective functions and equality constraints. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 135
EXAMPLE 1 A firm wishes to find an optimal product mix. The optimal mix would be the one that maximizes its total profit or contribution margin (CM) within the allowed budget and production capacity. Or the firm may want to determine a least cost combination of input materials while meeting production requirements, employing production capacities, and using available employees. APPLICATIONS OF LP Applications of LP are numerous. They include: 1. Selecting least-cost mix of ingredients for manufactured products 2. Developing an optimal budget 3. Determining an optimal investment portfolio (or asset allocation) 4. Allocating an advertising budget to a variety of media. 5. Scheduling jobs to machines 6. Determining a least-cost shipping pattern 7. Scheduling flights 8. Gasoline blending 9. Optimal manpower allocation 10. Selecting the best warehouse location to minimize shipping costs. FORMULATION OF LP To formulate an LP problem, certain steps are followed. They are: 1. Define what is called decision variables that you are trying to solve for. 2. Express the objective function and constraints in terms of these decision variables. All the expressions must be in linear form. In the following example, we will use this technique to find the optimal product mix. EXAMPLE 2 The Omni Furniture Manufacturing Company produces two products: desk and table. Both products require time in two processing departments, Assembly Department and Finishing Department. Data on the two products are as follows: Processing Assembly Finishing Profit per unit Products Desk 2 per unit 3 $25 Table 4 2 $40 Available Hours 100 hours 90
The company wants to find the most profitable mix of these two products. Step 1: Define the decision variables as follows: x1 = Number of units of desk to be produced x2 = Number of units of table to be produced Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 136
Step 2: The objective function to maximize total profit (Z) is expressed as: Z = 25x1 + 40x2 Then, formulate the constraints as inequalities: 2x1 + 4x2 < 100 (Assembly constraint) 3x1 + 2x2 < 90 (Finishing constraint) In addition, implicit in any LP formulation are the constraints that restrict x1 and x2 to be nonnegative, i.e., x1, x2 > 0 Maximize: Z =25x1 + 40x2 Subject to: 2x1 + 4x2 < 100 3x1 + 2x2 < 90 x1, x2 > 0 COMPUTATION METHODS OF LP There are solution methods available to solve LP problems. They include: 1. The simplex method 2. The graphical method The simplex method is the technique most commonly used to solve LP problems. It is an algorithm, which is an iteration method of computation, to move from one solution to another until it reaches the best solution. NOTE: The simplex method introduces what are referred to as slack variables (denoted with, say, s1 and s2) to convert inequalities to equalities, as follows: 2x1 + 4x2 < 100 ------------> 2x1 + 4x2+ s1 = 100 3x1 + 2x2 < 90 -------------> 3x1 + 2x2 + s2 = 90 where s1 and s2 must be nonnegative. If the left-hand side is greater than the right side (>), which is usually the case in a minimization problem, we say that there is a surplus. Then, we need -s1 and -s2 for a conversion to equalities, instead. The graphical solution is easier to use but limited to the LP problems involving two (or at most three) decision variables. The graphical method follows the steps: Step 1: Change inequalities to equalities. Step 2: Graph the equalities. To graph the equality, (1) set one variable equal to zero and find the value of the other and connect those two points on the graph and (2) mark these intersections on the axes and connect them with a straight line. Step 3: Identify the correct side for the original inequalities by shading. Repeat steps 1-3 for each constraint. Step 4: After all this, identify the feasible region, the area of feasible solutions. Step 5: Solve the constraints (expressed as equalities) simultaneously for the Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 137
various corner points of the feasible region. Step 6: Determine the profit or contribution margin at all corners in the region.
NOTE: Feasible solutions are values of decision variables that satisfy all the constraints simultaneously. They are found on and within the boundary of the feasible region. The graphical approach is based on two important LP properties: 1. The optimal solution lies on the boundary of the feasible region, which implies that one can ignore the (infinitely numerous) interior points of the feasible region when searching for an optimal solution.. 2. The optimal solution occurs at one of the corner points (basic feasible solutions) of the feasible region. EXAMPLE 3 Using the data and the LP model from Example 2, follow steps 1 through 4. We obtain the following feasible region (shaded area). Step 1: Change inequalities to equalities. 2x1 + 4x2= 100 3x1 + 2x2 = 90 Step 2: Graph the equalities. To graph the equality, set one variable equal to zero, find the value of the other, mark the points on the axes, and connect those two points with a straight line. For equation 1: If x1=0, x2=25; if x2=0, then x1=50, connect x2=25 and x1=50. For equation 2: If x1=0, x2=30; if x2=0, then x1=45, connect x2=30 and x1=45. Step 3: Identify the correct side for the original inequalities. The correct side is the line and the area below it for less-than or equal-to constraints. Step 4: After all this, identify the feasible region, the area of feasible solutions. The area of feasible solutions is the duplicated area as indicated by the shaded area in Figure 1. Step 5: Solve the constraints (expressed as equalities) simultaneously for the various corner points of the feasible region. Step 6: Determine the profit or contribution margin at all corners in the feasible region. We evaluate all of the corner points as follows: Corner Points x1 30 20 0 0 Profit x2 0 15 25 0 $25x1 + $40x2 $25(30) + $40(0) = $750 25(20) + 40(15)= 1,100 25(0) + 40(25)= 1,000 25(0) + 40(0) = 0
(a) (b) (c) (d)
The corner point (b) (x1=20, x2 =15) produces the most profitable solution (Z*=$1,100). This point can be found by solving two equations that created it simultaneously, as shown below. 2x1 + 4x2 = 100 (1) 3x1 + 2x2 = 90 (2) Multiplying the second equation (2) through by 2 and subtract from (1), we obtain 2x1 + 4x2 - 6x1 - 4x2 - 4x1 x1 = = = = 100 180 -80 20 (1) (2)
Substituting x1 = 20 into (10) or (2) yields x2 = 15. NOTE: We can use a computer LP software package such as LINDO (Linear Interactive and Discrete Optimization) and What's Best! to quickly solve an LP problem.
FIGURE 1 THE FEASIBLE REGION AND CORNER POINTS
THE DUAL PROBLEM IN LP Each LP maximization problem has its corresponding dual, a minimization problem and, conversely, each LP minimization problem has its corresponding dual, a maximization problem. It has the following features: (1) Both the primal and the dual will give the same values for the decision variables in the primal objective functions at their optimal solution points. (2) The optimal value for the primal will equal the optimal value for the dual. (3) The dual is useful since it has many interesting economic interpretations. For example, the dual optimal solutions give the imputed value (or shadow price) or the opportunity cost to the firm of each of the scarce resources. The following shows how to set up the dual problem:
Where i = 1,2,...m and j =1,2,...n In a 2 x 2 case,
To begin with, define the dual variables such as u1, u2. The number of dual variables should be the same as the number of the constraints in the primal. And then follow the following rules: 1. 2. Primal Coefficients in the objective function The right hand side in the constraints The constraints are Primal variables 0 The matrix of constraints coefficients
a11 a12 a21 a22
<----------> <---------->
Dual the right hand side in the constraints Coefficients in the objective function Dual variables 0 Dual constraints are Its transpose
3. 4. 5.
<----------> <----------> <---------->
a11 a21 a12 a22
EXAMPLE 4 From Example 2, we have Maximize: Z =25x1 + 40x2
Subject to: 2x1 + 4x2 < 100 (for assembly department) 3x1 + 2x2 < 90 (for finishing department) x1, x2 > 0 To set up the dual, first introduce the dual variables u1, u2. There will be two variables since there are two constraints in the primal. Then the dual can be set up as follows: Minimize V = 100u1 +90u2 (for desk) (for table)
Subject to: 2u1 + 3 u2 25 4u1 + 2 u2 40 u1, u2 0
EXAMPLE 5 Solving the dual graphically yields u1* = 8.75 and u2* = 2.50. The optimal value V* = 1,100. Figure 2 shows the computer software solution of the primal and dual problems.
VARIABLE X 1 X 2
VARIABLE VALUE 20 15
ORIGINAL COEFF. 25 40
COEFF. SENS. 0 Note:X1 = 20 0 X2 = 15
CONSTRAINT ORIGINAL SLACK OR NUMBER RHS SURPLUS 1 100 0 1 90 0 OBJECTIVE FUNCTION VALUE: 1100 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OBJECTIVE FUNCTION COEFFICIENTS LOWER LIMIT 20 16.67 RIGHT HAND SIDE CONSTRAINT Economic NUMBER 1 2 ORIGINAL COEFFICIENT 25 40
SHADOW PRICE 8.75 Note:u1 = $8.75 2.50 u2 = $2.50 Note: Z = $1,100
VARIABLE X 1 X 2
UPPER LIMIT 60 50
Analysis Decisions Page 142 LIMIT for Business VALUE and Strategic LIMIT
60 50 100 90 180 150
LOWER
ORIGINAL
UPPER
FIGURE 2 COMPUTER PRINTOUT FOR LP ECONOMIC INTERPRETATION OF THE DUAL PROBLEM The dual problem has numerous economic interpretations. They are: 1. u1, u2 represents a kind of valuation of the resource (capacity) in question. This value is not a market price; rather, it is a value to be imputed to the resource. For this reason, the value of the dual variables is referred to as shadow price or opportunity cost for the resource. Put it another way, the shadow price is the maximum price the firm is willing to pay for an additional unit of a given resource. For example, in Examples 4 and 5, the maximum price the firm is willing to pay for an extra hour of the assembly capacity is $8.75, while it is for an extra hour of the finishing capacity is only $2.50. If the actual price is above the shadow price, the firm will not add an additional unit for that resource. 2. Turn next to the constraint in the dual. Let us examine the first constraint: 2u1 + 3 u2 25. The right hand side term 25 denotes the per-unit profit or contribution margin of one desk, while 40 is for one table. Since 2 hours denotes the amount of time used in the assembly department by desk and 3 hours denote amount of time required in finishing department by desk, the left hand side represents the total opportunity cost of production of one unit of desk. Thus, what this constraint requires is that the opportunity costs of producing one desk be imputed at a level at least as large as the per-unit profit for the product. 3. Now look at the dual objective function, V = 100u1 +90u2. V simply means the total value imputed to (total opportunity cost) of the resources. Thus, the correspondence between the primal and the dual suggest that: To maximize total profit or contribution by finding the optimal output levels is tantamount to minimizing the total imputed value or opportunity cost of the firms resources, with the proviso that the opportunity cost of production of each product must be no less than the contribution margin from the product.
4. Notice, however, that if the opportunity cost of production is actually to exceed the profit, then the resource allocation must certainly be non-optimal, because simply by dropping the corresponding product, resources will be released therefrom and can immediately be utilized to better advantage elsewhere. Let us check that.
2u1 + 3 u2 25 4u1 + 2 u2 40
(for desk) (for table)
We know that the optimal solutions are: u1* = 8.75 and u2* = 2.50. Plugging these numbers into the constraints yields: 2(8.75) + 3 (2.50)= 25 = 25 4(8.75) + 2 (2.50)= 40 = 40 (for desk) (for table)
It shows that the opportunity cost equals the profit for each product, so that the resource allocation turns out to be optimal. This results in what we call complimentary slackness condition, which says A pair of primal and dual feasible solutions is optimal to the respective problems if and only if whenever a slackness in one problem is strictly positive; the corresponding nonnegative variable in the other problem is zero. More specifically, (1) If a constraint of the primal is not binding (i.e., a slack exists), then the shadow price of that constraint will be zero. If a constraint is binding (i.e., no slack exists), the shadow price will be positive. (2) If a constraint of the dual is not binding (i.e., opportunity cost greater than the per-unit profit), then the primal variable will be zero. If a constraint is binding (i.e., opportunity cost equal to the per-unit profit), the primal variable is positive. Dual constraints 2(8.75) + 3 (2.50)= 25 = 25 (for desk) 4(8.75) + 2 (2.50)= 40 = 40 (for table) Also, Dual variables u1* = 8.75 > 0 u2* = 2.50 > 0 ---------> ---------> Primal constraints 2(20) + 4(15) = 100 = 100 3(20) + 2(15) = 90 = 90 --------> --------> Primal variables x1*=20>0 x2*=15>0
NOTE: 1. In this example, both the primal and the dual constraints are binding (no slacks exist or opportunity cost exactly equal to the per-unit profit). Therefore, the optimal values of the primal and the dual are positive. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 144
2. The shadow price is zero if the constraint is not binding because it would do you no good to expand the capacity in an area where you are not using the full capacity that you already have. 5. The optimal solution values for the primal and the dual are the same. To prove: Z* = 25(20) + 40(15) = 1,100 and V*= 100(8.75+ + 90(2.50) = 1,100, therefore Z*=V*=$1,100. ACTIVITY ANALYSIS AND SINGLE PRODUCT The application of LP to production discussed in the previous section was concerned with multiple products. The problem dealt with determining the optimal combination of products (i.e., optimal product mix), given restrictions on the resources (inputs) employed in the production process. The focus of the analysis was on output--recall that the horizontal and vertical axes of the graphs measured the quantities of the respective products (outputs) and that resources (inputs) were represented only as a series of constraint lines on the outputs. In what follows, we discuss an activity analysis which involves a single product. It concerns itself with choosing an optimal combination of production processes to be employed to produce the greatest quantity possible of a single product, given fixed amounts of certain inputs. Each of the processes is considered to be an activity. LP is also used to find the optimal solution. The focus of the analysis is on inputs and the alternative production processes within which the inputs can be employed to obtain the product. LP seeks to determine the optimal level of each activity. The theory of production (i.e., process rays, isoquants, and isoprofit curves) can be used to illustrate the alternative production processes and the concept of input substitution. We will first formulate and solve the output-maximization problem. The profit-maximization formulation will be taken up later. FORMULATION OF THE OUTPUT-MAXIMIZATION PROBLEM The following example illustrates how to formulate and solve the output-maximization problem. EXAMPLE 6 A leather-processing firm employs capital (units) and labor (units) in the dyeing of white suede leather. Three different production processes (A, B, and C) are available for its operation. Each process involves a different combination of labor and capital--process A, requires 1 unit of capital and 4 units, process B, requires 2 units and 2 units, and process C, requires 5 units and 1 unit. The firms capacity is limited--5 units of capital and 8 units of labor are available per day for this dyeing operation. Define QA, QB, and QC, to be the quantity of dyed leather per day by processes A, Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 145
B, and C, respectively. Given that the objective is to maximize output subject to the input (capital and labor) constraints, the problem can be formulated as an LP problem as follows: Maximize: Subject to Q = QA + QB + QC. QA + 2QB + 5QC 5 4QA+ 2QB + QC 8 QA, QB, QC 0 (objective function) (capital constraint) (labor constraint) (nonnegativity constraint)
GRAPHICAL APPROACH TO THE OUTPUT-MAXIMIZATION PROBLEM The LP activity problem can be illustrated and solved graphically, using process rays to represent the production processes, production isoquants to represent the objective function, and a feasible region to represent the constraints. PROCESS RAYS A production process is one in which the inputs are combined in fixed proportions to obtain the output. By this definition, a production process can be represented graphically as a ray through the origin having a slope equal to the ratio of the number of units of the respective resources required to produce one unit of output. In this example, the three production process rays are shown in Figure 4. Along ray A, the inputs are combined in the ratio of 4 units of labor to 1 unit of capital. Hence, ray A, has a slope of 4. Similarly, along ray B. the inputs are combined in the ratio of 2 units of labor to 2 units of capital. Process ray C, shows the inputs combined in the ratio of 1 to 5. Each production process is assumed to display constant returns to scale. This means that output along each ray increases proportionately with increases in the inputs. For example, points D, G, J represents the inputs needed to produce one, two, and three units of output. PRODUCTION ISOQUANTS A production isoquant traces out the combinations of any two or more inputs which give rise to the same level of output. The isoquants are constructed by drawing straight lines between the points of equal output on adjacent process rays. Four isoquants, representing output levels Q of 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively, are shown in Figure 3. They have parallel line segments between adjacent process rays. For example, line segment DE is parallel to GH, and line segment EF is parallel to HI. This occurs since the coefficients of the Q variables in the resource constraints are constants. NOTE: The segment of an isoquant between two production process rays implies that a combination of the two processes is being used to produce that particular level of output. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 146
As was indicated earlier, points along each process ray represent the output obtained if the two inputs (labor and capital) are combined in the ratio of the respective number of units of each resource required to produce a given unit of output. However, the points that lie on isoquants between adjacent process rays have a slightly different interpretation. These points represent a combination of output from each of the adjacent production processes. For example, Point S on the "Q = 4" isoquant in Figure 3 represents a production combination using both processes B, and C,. The quantity of output that is produced by each process can be obtained by constructing a parallelogram such as the one shown in Figure 4. A line is drawn from Point J parallel to process ray B, intersecting process ray C at Point L. Another line is drawn from Point S parallel to process ray B, intersecting process ray C at Point D. From the parallelogram 0ESL, one can determine both the quantity of output produced by each process and the respective amount of inputs used in each process. FIGURE 3 PRODUCTION RAYS AND PRODUCTION ISOQUANTS
The firm should produce one unit of output using B, since Point E is on the "Q = 1" isoquant, and three units of output using process C, since Point L is on the "Q = 3" isoquant. This combination will yield the four units of output. At Point E, 2 units of capital and 2 units of labor are used in process B; and at Point L, 15 units of capital and 3 units of Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 147
labor are used in process C. Total capital and labor resources used in producing the four units of output are 17 units and 5 units, respectively. All other points that lie between the process rays can be interpreted in a similar manner. FEASIBLE REGION The feasible region consists of all the capital and labor input combinations that simultaneously satisfy all constraints of the LP problem. The shaded rectangle 0TRW shown in Figure 3 represents the feasible region for the example problem. Since a maximum of 5 units of capital is available per day, only input combinations on or to the left of the RW line represent possible solutions to the LP problem. Similarly, since a maximum of 8 units of labor is available per day, possible solutions must lie on or below the TR line. Finally, the non-negativity constraints preclude input combinations to the left of the 0T line and below the 0W line. OPTIMAL SOLUTION The combination of production processes that maximizes output subject to the resource constraints occurs at the point on the boundary of the feasible region that lies on the highest production isoquant. Figure 4 indicates that the optimal solution occurs at Point R. At Point R, three units of output are obtained by using 5 units of capital and 8 units of labor. Constructing the parallelogram 0DRH shows that one unit of output should be produced using process A,(QA=1) and the remainder, two units in this case, using process B (QB=2). Alternatively, from the graphical solution we see that output is maximized where QC=0, so we substitute this into two constraint equations, we obtain QA + 2QB = 5 4QA+ 2QB = 8 and subtracting the second equation from the first, -3QA=-3 or QA=1. We then can find QB=2, which gives us the same solution we found graphically. PROFIT-MAXIMIZATION PROBLEM The production problem also can be formulated as a profit-maximization problem. EXAMPLE 7 In Example 6, assume that the profit contribution of output produced by processes A, B and C, are $6, $5, and $4 per unit, respectively. Provided that the firm wishes to maximize profits (Z) instead of output (Q), the objective function becomes Maximize: Z=6QA + 5QB + 4QC An optimal solution to this profit-maximizing LP problem can be obtained and illustrated Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 148
by isoprofit curves rather than isoquant curves. ISOPROFIT CURVES An isoprofit curve reflects the various combinations of products that a firm can sell to earn a given level of profit. It is constructed by drawing straight lines between the points on adjacent process rays having equal total profits. To illustrate, consider the "Q = 1" isoquant from Figure 4, which is labeled MNF in Figure 5. Let us say we want to develop an isoprofit curve corresponding to a profit of $4. Point F is clearly on this isoprofit curve, since one unit of output produced by process C yields a profit of $4. Point N also represents one unit of output. However, each unit of output produced by process B yields a profit of $5. FIGURE 4 SOLUTION OF OUTPUT-MAXIMIZATION PROBLEM
FIGURE 5 SOLUTION OF PROFIT-MAXIMIZATION PROBLEM
Therefore, the point on process ray A having profit of $4 must be $4 $5 = 80 percent of the distance from the origin (0) to Point N. This corresponds to Point B. Similarly, the point on process ray A having a profit of $4 must be $4$6 = 67 percent of the distance from the origin (0) to Point M. This occurs at Point D. By connecting the points on adjacent process rays with straight-line segments, one obtains the "Z = $4" isoprofit curve. The profit curves corresponding to profits of $8, $12, and $16 are also shown in Figure 5. As with the production isoquants, the isoprofit curves have parallel line segments between adjacent process rays. OPTIMAL SOLUTION The combination of production processes that maximizes total profits subject to the resource constraints occurs at the point on the boundary of the feasible region that lies on the highest isoprofit curve. As shown in Figure 5, the optimal solution is a Point L, which lies on the "Z = $16" isoprofit curve. Recalling that this solution corresponds to Point R in Figure 5, the firm should produce one leather using process A, and two leathers using process B, in order to maximize profits. Substituting these values for QA and QB respectively (QC = 0) into the objective function, we obtain $16. (6QA + 5QB + 4QC = 6(1)+ 5(2)+ 4(0) = $16). Alternatively, from the graphical solution we see that output is maximized where QC=0, so we substitute this into two constraint equations, we obtain Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 150
QA + 2QB = 5 4QA+ 2QB = 8 and subtracting the second equation from the first, -3QA=-3 or QA=1. We then can find QB=2, which gives us the same solution we found graphically. NOTE: The production problem can be set up as a cost-minimization LP problem. The procedure for finding an optimal solution is basically the same, except that isocost curves are introduced to find the least-cost input combination, rather than isoprofit curves. QUESTIONS 1. What is linear programming? Why is it called linear? 2. List six popular applications of LP for business decisions. 3. What are the two ingredients of LP? 4. What is the economic meaning of the dual solution? 5. Compare LP, differential calculus, and the Lagrangean multiplier technique. 6. How does activity analysis differ from an optimal product mix problem? 7. What are two major computational methods of LP? Briefly describe the pro and con of each. 8. List three general properties associated with LP. 9. Explain the complementary slackness condition. PROBLEMS 1. The Carson Company makes two products, X and Y. Their contribution margins are $50 and $90, respectively. Each product goes through three processes: cutting, finishing, and painting. The number of hours required by each process for each product and capacities available are given below: Hours Required in Each Process Product X Y Capacities in Hours Cutting 2 1 300 Finishing 4 6 500 Painting 3 2 250
Formulate the objective function and constraints to determine the optimal product mix. 2. A company fabricates and assembles two products, A and B. It takes three minutes to fabricate each unit of A, and six minutes to fabricate each unit of B. Assembly time per unit for product A is one minute, and for product B, nine minutes. Six hundred minutes of fabrication time and 1,800 minutes of assembly time are available. The company makes a Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 151
contribution margin of $2 on each unit of A it sells, and $1 on each unit of B. (a) Express the problem as an LP model. (b) Solve this problem. What quantities of A and B should be produced in order to maximize profits? What will be the profits earned at these production levels? 3. Given the following primal, formulate its dual: Maximize: Z =13x1 + 40x2
Subject to: 2x1 + 4x2 < 6 x1 + 2x2 < 10 5x1 + 2x2 < 25 x1, x2 > 0 4. The Zenico Chemical Company produces an industrial cleaner for carpets. This chemical is made from a mixture of two other chemicals which both contain cleaning agent LIM and cleaning agent LOOM. Their product must contain 175 units of agent LIM and 150 units of agent LOOM, and weigh at least 100 pounds. Chemical A costs $8 per pound, while chemical B cost $6 per pound. Chemical A contains one unit of agent LIM and one unit of agent LOOM. Set up the problem in the linear programming format and solve it. ANSWERS 1. Linear programming (LP) is a mathematical technique designed to determine an optimal decision (or an optimal plan) chosen from a large number of possible decisions. The optimal decision is the one that meets the specified objective of the company, subject to various restrictions or constraints. It is linear because we assume both the objective function and constraints are linear. 2. Six popular applications of LP are: selecting least-cost mix of ingredients for manufactured products; determining the most profitable mix of products; determining an optimal investment portfolio (or asset allocation); allocating an advertising budget to a variety of media; scheduling jobs to machines; determining a least-cost shipping pattern. 3. Two ingredients of LP are objective function and inequality constraints (including non-negativity constraints). 4. The dual solution represents shadow prices or opportunity costs of resources to the firm. They are the maximum prices the firm is willing to pay for an additional unit of given resources. If the actual price is above the shadow price, the firm will not add an additional unit for that resource. 5. LP deals with constrained optimization problems with linear objective functions and Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 152
linear inequality constraints, while differential calculus and the Lagrangean multiplier technique deal with problems involving linear or nonlinear objective functions and equality constraints. 6. Activity analysis involves a single product. It concerns itself with choosing an optimal combination of production processes to be employed to produce the greatest quantity possible of a single product, given fixed amounts of certain inputs. Each of the processes is considered to be an activity. LP is also used to find the optimal solution. The application of LP can also involve multiple products. The problem dealt with determining the optimal combination of products (i.e., optimal product mix), given restrictions on the resources (inputs) used in the production process. 7. Two major computational methods of LP are: (1) the simplex method and (2) the graphical method. The simplex method is the technique most commonly used to solve LP problems. It is an algorithm, which is an iteration method of computation, to move from one solution to another until it reaches the best solution. The graphical approach is easier to use but limited to the LP problems involving two (or at most three) decision variables. 8. (a). The optimal solutions lies on the boundary of the feasible region, which implies that one can ignore the (infinitely numerous) interior points of the feasible region when searching for an optimal solution. (b). The optimal solution occurs at one of the corner points (basic feasible solutions) of the feasible region. (c). The optimal solution values for the primal and the dual are the same. 9. A pair of primal and dual feasible solutions is optimal to the respective problems if and only if whenever a slackness in one problem is strictly positive; the corresponding nonnegative variable in the other problem is zero. More specifically, (1) If a constraint of the primal is not binding (i.e., a slack exists), then the shadow price of that constraint will be zero. If a constraint is binding (i.e., no slack exists), the shadow price will be positive. (2) If a constraint of the dual is not binding (i.e., opportunity cost greater than the per-unit profit), then the primal variable will be zero. If a constraint is binding (i.e., opportunity cost equal to the per-unit profit), the primal variable is positive. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS l. Let X = Number of units of product X to be produced Y = Number of units of product Y to be produced
Then, the LP formulation is as follows: Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 153
Maximize: Subject to:
Z=
$50X + $90Y 2X + 1Y < 300 4X + 6Y < 500 3X + 2Y < 250 X,Y > 0
2. (a) Let A = Number of units of product A to produce Let B = Number of units of product B to produce Maximize: Subject to: Z= $2A + $1B 3A + 6B < 600 (fabrication) 1A + 9B < 1,800 (assembly) A, B > 0
(b) Thus, 200 units of A should be produced and no units of B. Profit will be $400 at this level.
3. There are three dual variables since there are three constraints in the primal, u1, u2, and u3 Minimize V = Subject to: 6u1 +10u2+25u3
2u1 + u2 + 5u3 13 4u1 + 2u2 +2u3 40 u1, u2, u30 Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 154
4.
Define A = B=
Number of pounds of chemical A to be produced Number of pounds of chemical B to be produced
Then, the LP formulation of this cost minimization problem is Minimize: $8A + $6B
Subject to: A + 7B > 175 3A + B > 150 A + B > 100 A, B > 0 The least-cost mixture of the two chemicals A and B is: A = 25 pounds, B = 75 pounds.
CHAPTER 7 QUIZ 1. A firm wishes to find an optimal product mix. The optimal mix would be the one that maximizes its total profit or contribution margin (CM) within the allowed budget and production capacity. Or the firm may want to determine a least cost combination of input materials while meeting production requirements, employing production capacities, and using available employees. An appropriate technique for finding an optimal product mix is A. Linear programming. B. Capital budgeting. C. Differential analysis. D. Queuing theory. 2. Linear programming is an operating research technique that allocates resources. Mathematical expressions are used to describe the problem. The measure of effectiveness that is to be maximized or minimized is the A. Constraints. B. Set of decision variables. C. Objective function. D. Derivative of the function. 3. The constraints in a linear programming model are A. Included in the objective function. B. Costs. C. Scarce resources. D. Dependent variables.
CHAPTER 7 ANSWER KEY 1. (A) is correct. Linear programming (LP) is a mathematical technique designed to determine an optimal decision (or an optimal plan) chosen from a large number of possible decisions. The optimal decision is the one that meets the specified objective of the company, subject to various restrictions or constraints. It concerns itself with the problem of allocating scarce resources among competing activities in an optimal manner. The optimal decision yields the highest profit, contribution margin (CM), or revenue, or the lowest cost. (B) is incorrect. Capital budgeting is used to analyze and evaluate long-term capital investments. (C) is incorrect. Differential analysis is used for decision making when differences in costs (revenues) for two or more options are compared. (D) is incorrect. Queuing theory is used to minimize the sum of the costs of waiting lines and servicing waiting lines when items arrive randomly and are serviced sequentially. 2. (C) is correct. The objective function in a linear programming model symbolically represents the outcome to be optimized, e.g., total contribution margin, net income, or total cost. (A) is incorrect. Constraints are the resource limitations and other conditions within which the objective function is to be optimized. (B) is incorrect. Variables are the unknowns used to construct the objective function and constraints. (D) is incorrect. It is a calculus term that is irrelevant in this context. 3. (C) is correct. LP models are mathematical techniques in which an objective function is maximized or minimized subject to constraints. Constraints are mathematical statements expressed as equalities or inequalities. They describe conditions, usually resource limitations, to which values of the variables are subject. These constraints must be specified before a linear programming problem can be solved. (A) is incorrect. The objective function incorporates the variables to be optimized. (B) is incorrect. Costs are included in the objective function. (D) is incorrect. The constraints are given and are independent. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 157
CHAPTER 8 COST: THEORY AND ANALYSIS LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. Distinguish between the total variable costs and the total fixed costs. 2. Illustrate the average total cost. 3. Picture graphically the planning (envelop) curve. 4. Discuss statistical cost analysis. 5. Define incremental (differential) costs 6. Illustrate and discuss sunk costs. 7. Differentiate between implicit vs. explicit costs. 8. Give examples of shutdown costs. 9. Define relevant costs. 10. Illustrate and explain the learning curve effect. 11. Compute the break-even point. 12. Explain a cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis. 13. Define the unit contribution margin. 14. Illustrate and discuss the operating leverage. The costs of goods and services derive from the character of the process by which they are produced. The analysis of cost behavior is founded, therefore, upon the principles of production. This chapter translates the relationships among production technology, inputs, and outputs into cost functions. The fundamental starting point in cost analysis is that a functional relationship exists between the costs of production and the rate of output per period of time. COST FUNCTIONS A cost function shows the various costs that will be incurred at various output levels, i.e., Cost =f (output) Further, the rate of output is, in turn, a function of the usage of the resource inputs: Output =f(inputs) Since the production function displays the relationships between input and output flows, once the prices of the inputs are known, the costs of a specific quantity of output can be determined. As a result, the level and behavior of costs as a firm's rate of output changes relies heavily on two factors: (1) the characteristic of the underlying production function and (2) the prices paid for the inputs. The first determines the shape of the firm's cost functions, Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 158
while the second decides the level of costs. In the short run, at least one input is fixed, so that a firm may not be able to achieve the best combination of inputs for its desired level of output. Because of the presence of both fixed and variable costs in the short run, we can identify seven different types of short-run cost curves: total fixed cost, total variable cost, total cost, average fixed cost, average variable costs, average total cost, and marginal cost. Note: In the long run, no resource costs are fixed. A firm can therefore vary the amount of any of its inputs. In the short run, one or more inputs are fixed. THE SET OF TOTAL COST CONCEPTS Three concepts of total cost are important for analysis of a firm's cost structure in the short run: total fixed cost (TFC), total variable cost (TVC), and total cost (TC). Total fixed cost (TFC) is simply the sum of the quantities of the fixed inputs multiplied by their associated prices. In the short run the level of total fixed costs is a constant. Similarly, total variable cost (TVC) is the sum of the amounts a firm spends for each of the variable inputs employed in the production process. Total variable cost is zero when output is zero, because no variable inputs need be employed to produce nothing. However, as output expands, the greater becomes the usage of variable inputs and the greater is total variable cost. The total cost (TC) of a given level of output in the short run is the sum of total variable cost and total fixed cost: TC = TVC + TFC TVC are costs that vary in total in direct proportion to changes in activity. Examples are direct materials and gasoline expense based on mileage driven. TFCs are costs that remain constant in total regardless of changes in activity. Examples are rent, insurance, and taxes. THE SET OF UNIT COST CONCEPTS There are four major unit cost concepts: average fixed cost (AFC), average variable cost (AVC), average total cost (ATC), and marginal cost (MC). All of these may be derived from the total cost concepts discussed above. Average variable cost (AVC) is total variable cost divided by the corresponding number of units of output, or AVC = TVC/Q Average fixed cost (AFC) is defined as total fixed cost divided by the units of output, or AFC = TFC/Q Since total fixed cost is a constant amount, average fixed cost declines continuously as the rate of production increases.
EXAMPLE 1 If TFC=$1,000, at an output of 10 units AFC= $1,000/10=$100; at an output of 20 units AFC=$1000/20= $50; at an output of 50 units AFC= $1000/50= $20; and so on. The reduction of AFC by producing more units of output is what businesspeople commonly call spreading the overhead. Average total cost (ATC) is defined as total cost divided by the corresponding units of output, or ATC = TC/Q However, since TC = TFC + TVC, ATC = TC/Q = (TVC + TFC)/Q = TVC/Q + TFC/Q = AVC + AFC Graphically, ATC is U-shaped because the AVC is an increasing function, while the AFC is a continuously decreasing function of output. MARGINAL COST Marginal cost (MC) is the cost of producing an additional unit of output. For example, the marginal cost of the 500th unit of output can be calculated by finding the difference in total cost at 499 units of output and total cost at 500 units of output. MC is thus the additional cost of one more unit of output. MC is also the change in total variable cost associated with a unit change in output. This is because total cost changes, whereas total fixed cost remains unchanged. MC may also be thought of as the rate of change in total cost as the quantity (Q) of output changes and is simply the first derivative of the total cost (TC) function. Thus, MC = TC/Q = dTC/dQ Economists normally assume firms to be producing at a point at which marginal costs are positive and rising. In managerial applications of this concept, MC is viewed as being equivalent to incremental cost which is the increment in cost between the two alternatives or two discrete volumes of output. NOTE: 1. AFC is inversely related to the average product (AP) of the fixed inputs. 2. AVC is inversely related to the average product (AP) of the variable inputs. 3. MC is inversely related to the marginal product (MP) of added units of variable inputs. If L is variable input and w = its wage, then AVC = w/APL; MC = w/MPL. STAGES OF PRODUCTION AND SHORT-RUN COST CURVES Figure 1 displays the relationship between a production function and the corresponding short-run total and unit cost curves. The shape of the total cost curve is determined entirely by the TVC curve, since fixed costs merely shift the total cost curve to a higher level. This means that marginal costs are totally independent of fixed costs. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 160
The TVC curve increases at a decreasing rate over the range of output where increasing returns to variable input prevail (0 to Q1). Over the range of output where decreasing returns to variable input are encountered (Q1 to Q2) the TVC curve increases at an increasing rate. The explanation for this behavior of TVC rests with the principle of diminishing marginal returns (DMR). Where the quantity of output increases at an increasing rate, marginal product (MP) is also increasing and smaller and smaller increases in variable inputs are required to produce successive units of output. This means that TVC will increase by progressively smaller amounts as output rises. But when the point of DMR is encountered and MP starts to decline, it becomes necessary to use larger and larger amounts of variable input to obtain equal increments of output. TVC therefore increase at an increasing rate over this output range. The AFC curve decreases continually as the quantity of output increases. Geometrically speaking, the AFC curve is a rectangular hyperbola, meaning that the curve approaches the vertical and horizontal axes asymptotically. In addition, were we to pick any point on the AFC curve, draw lines perpendicular to the two axes, and calculate the area of the resulting rectangle, this area will be the same irrespective of the point chosen because this area measures AFC x Q which is equal to TFC, a constant value. The AVC curve is U-shaped because of its inverse relationship with average product (AP). When AP is rising, AVC must be falling, and that when AP is declining AVC must be rising. Minimum AVC (an output of Q2) corresponds to the output where AP is maximum (X2 units of variable input). It is at this output that the point of diminishing average returns (DAR) is encountered and the Stage II phase of production begins. Thus Stage I levels of output correspond to the output range where AVC is declining, whereas Stage II quantities correspond to the range of output where AVC is rising. The shape of the ATC curve is obtained by vertically summing the AFC and AVC curves at each output. Because AFC decreases as output expands, the distance between ATC and AVC gets progressively smaller. Thus, the ATC curve is asymptotic to the AVC
FIGURE 1 PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS AND COST CURVES
Note: Panels (a) and (b) displays the set of production function curves corresponding to the three stages of production. Panel (c) represents the corresponding family of total cost functions. Panel (d) shows the shapes of and relationships among various unit cost curves. curve and is U-shaped. ATC continues to fall beyond the output where AVC is minimum because the continuing declines in AFC more than offset the slight increases in AVC. As output expands further, however, the increases in AVC begin to override the decreases in Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 162
AFC and ATC turns upward. The minimum point on the ATC curve defines the most efficient output in the short run. The curvature of the MC function reflects its inverse relationship with MP: So long as MP is rising, MC must be declining. But when diminishing marginal returns set in, MC begins to rise. Hence, assuming a constant price for variable input, increasing returns to variable input result in declining marginal costs and decreasing returns are associated with rising marginal costs. Marginal cost is minimum at the point of DMR where MP is maximum. Furthermore, the MC curve intersects the AVC and ATC curves at their minimum pointsa relationship of mathematical necessity. When the cost of producing an additional unit is less than the average total cost of the previously produced units, the newly computed ATC will fall, being pulled down by the lower MC. Similarly, when the cost of producing an additional unit is greater than the average total cost of the preceding units, the new value of ATC rises, being pulled up by the higher value of MC. It follows that ATC is minimum at the point of intersection of MC and ATC. By analogous reasoning the MC curve must pass through the minimum point of the AVC function. Figure 2 illustrates short-run cost curves. NOTE: 1. The average-marginal relationship is the graphical relationship between corresponding average and marginal curves. The relationship is the following: (1) When an average curve (AC)is rising, its corresponding marginal curve (MC) lies above it, (2) when an AC is falling, its corresponding MC lies below, and (3) when an AC is either at a maximum or minimum, its corresponding MC equals AC. 2. Average costs tend to be U-shaped. 3. The symbols AC and ATC are used interchangeably.
LONG RUN COST CURVES - PLANNING CURVES In the long run, the firm has complete input flexibility; therefore, all resource inputs are variable. There are no total or average fixed costs in the long run since no inputs are fixed, and the discussion of unit costs can be limited to just average costs. Generally, a firm's long-run cost objective is to be in a position to produce the desired output at the lowest possible cost. This means adjusting its scale of production so as to be "the right size." Sometimes economies can be attained by dividing the production process into smaller production units. Other times, lower unit costs can be achieved by enlarging the scale of production. In examining how efficiency and costs are affected by the scale of production, it is important to distinguish between plants and firms because the cost efficiency advantages and disadvantages of each are different. Since there are no TFC and AFC curves, we need look only at the nature and shape of the long-run average Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 163
cost (LRAC) curve. FIGURE 2 SHORT-RUN COST CURVES: TOTAL, AVERAGE, AND MARGINAL COSTS RELATIONSHIP
Suppose technological constraints allow a firm the choice of contracting any one of three plant sizes: small, medium, and large. The short-run average cost (SRAC) curve for each of these plant sizes is represented by SRACS, SRACM, and SRACL in Figure 3. Whatever size plant the firm has currently, in the long run it can convert to or construct Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 164
any one of these three plant scales. Certainly, the firm's choice of plant size is tailored by its perceived need for future production capacity. For example, if the anticipated output rate is 0Q1, the firm should elect to build the small-sized plant since it can produce 0Q1 units of output per period of time at a cost of AC1, which is well below either the unit cost of the medium-sized plant (AC2) or the unit cost of the large-sized plant (AC3). If the expected output rate is 0Q2, the medium-sized plant plainly offers the lowest unit cost. On the other hand, at an output of 0Q3 the medium and large-sized plants are equally efficient from a unit cost standpoint. The portions of the three short-run average cost curves that are fitting for selecting the optimum plant size are indicated by the solid, scalloped line in Figure 3. This line is called the long run average cost curve (LRAC) and shows the minimum cost per unit of producing each output when all resource inputs are variable and any desired scale of plant can be built. The broken line segments of the SRAC curves all entail higher unit costs than are capable of being achieved by operating along the LRAC curve. In reality, a firm will have more than just three plant sizes to choose from. When the number of alternative plant sizes approaches infinity, the LRAC curve is an "envelope" of the short-run curves and is tangent to each of the short-run average cost curves. This curve is the solid portion of each SRAC curve and is called the envelop or planning curve. The LRAC curve for a firm shows the minimum average cost of producing a product for various firm sizes when the firm has adequate time to adjust any and all of its inputs to optimal levels. By and large, the LRAC curves for both plants and firms are U-shaped. The U-shape clearly implies that up to some output, being bigger can mean greater efficiency and lower unit cost, but beyond this output larger plants and firms arc less efficient and entail higher unit costs. The factors causing larger plants to be more efficient than smaller plants include (1) more opportunity for specialization in the use of resource inputs; (2) the fact that the most advanced and efficient technology is practical only when producing large volumes of output; (3) the greater ability of larger plants to take advantage of and utilize by-products; (4) the greater opportunities for larger plants to make volume purchases of raw materials and thereby realize quantity discounts; and (5) the proportionately lower costs of purchasing and installing larger machines and equipment. However, sooner or later economies of scale will be exhausted and increases in plant size will result in diseconomies of scale due to growing difficulties of maintaining efficient supervision and coordination and the bottlenecks and costs of transporting materials, labor, and goods from place to place within the plant.
NOTE: 1. SRAC curves relate costs and output for a specified scale of plant, while LRAC curves identify optimal scales of plant for each production level. 2. The behavior of long-run costs is a key force in determining the number and size of firms in a particular industry. Generally speaking, where there are significant economies associated with mass-production technologies, the structure of an industry will consist of a small number of large-scale producers. When there are few cost advantages to producing in large quantities and many cost disadvantages, production units will be large in number and small in size.
STATISTICAL COST ANALYSIS Firms attempt to ascertain the nature of short-run or long-run cost/output relations. Cost curves are estimated, via statistical techniques such as regression analysis, based on time-series or cross-sectional data. Three types of functions--linear, quadratic, and cubic--especially the first two, have been most commonly employed in fitting statistical cost functions. The choice of one or the other depends largely on the extent to which the mathematical properties of the function represent the economics of the particular case. NOTE: Although cost and production are clearly related, the nature of input prices must be examined before any cost function can be related to the underlying production function. Input prices and productivity jointly determines cost functions.
FIGURE 3 THE LONG-RUN AVERAGE COST CURVE AND PLANNING CURVE
TYPES OF COSTS In accounting, the term "cost" is defined as a measurement, in monetary terms, of the amount of resources used for some purpose. In economics, the term "cost" is used in many different ways. Costs can be classified by criteria such as by behavior. Many of the cost concepts are useful for managerial decision making and planning. EXPLICIT AND IMPLICIT COSTS Explicit costs are costs involving cash outlays--that is, out-of-pocket costs, while implicit costs are costs that do not involve cash outlays and arise from the alternative Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 167
use--that is opportunity costs. VARIABLE COSTS, FIXED COSTS, AND MIXED COSTS From a managerial standpoint, perhaps the most important way to classify costs is by how they behave in accordance with changes in volume or some measure of activity. By behavior, costs can be classified into the following three basic categories: variable, fixed, and mixed (semi-variable) costs. Variable and fixed costs were defined previously. Mixed (or semi-variable) costs are costs that vary with changes in volume but, unlike variable costs, do not vary in direct proportion. In other words, these costs contain both a variable component and a fixed component. Examples are the rental of a delivery truck, where a fixed rental fee plus a variable charge based on mileage is made; and power costs, where the expense consists of a fixed amount plus a variable charge based on consumption. The breakdown of costs into their variable components and their fixed components is important in many areas of economics, such as break-even analysis, and short-term decision making. OPPORTUNITY COSTS Opportunity costs are the net revenue foregone by rejecting the best alternative use of resources such as time, money, or facilities. It is perhaps the most fundamental concept in economics since it stresses the fact that all resources are generally limited and have alternative uses. For example, assume a company has a choice of using its capacity to produce an extra 10,000 units or renting it out for $20,000. The opportunity cost of using that capacity is $20,000. A further example is the return foregone from having money tied up in accounts receivable for a longer time because of a collection problem. If the extra funds tied up in receivables were $400,000 for a three-month period and the firm could earn 10% per annum, the opportunity cost is $10,000 ($400,000 x 3/12 x 10%). OUT-OF-POCKET (OUTLAY) COSTS Out-of-pocket (outlay) costs are expenditures by cash to carry on a particular activity. They are the explicit costs that go into a firm's formal accounting records to arrive at a measure of earnings, such as actual cash outlays made during the period for payroll, advertising, and other operating expenses. Depreciation is not an out-of-pocket cost, since it involves no current cash expenditure. SUNK COSTS Sunk costs are the costs of resources that have already been incurred at some point in the past whose total will not be affected by any decision made now or in the future. Sunk costs are usually past or historical costs. Sunk costs are therefore not relevant to future decisions. For example, suppose you acquired a machine for $50,000 three years ago which has a book value of $20,000. The $20,000 book value is a sunk cost which does not affect a future replacement decision. INCREMENTAL (DIFFERENTIAL) COSTS Incremental (differential) costs are costs associated with any managerial decision. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 168
This is equivalent to the marginal cost concept but involves (1) multiple changes in output and discrete output choices, rather than a single-unit change. SHUTDOWN COSTS Shutdown costs are those costs that would be incurred in the event of a temporary suspension of activities and which could be saved if operations are allowed to continue. The concept is important because of an economic principle that as long as a firm is at least covering its variable costs, it will not discontinue operations in the short run since any surplus, known as contribution margin, will be applied to the recovery of its fixed cost. INCREMENTAL ANALYSIS VERSUS MARGINAL ANALYSIS Incremental analysis is frequently used in the practical equivalent of marginal analysis. It relates to a specified managerial decision which can involve a choice between two discrete quantities of output (e.g., 10,000 units vs. 15,000 units). It is the process of examining the impact of alternative choice decisions on revenue, cost, or profit. It focuses attention on changes or differences between alternatives. Managers will have to weigh the incremental cost associated with the decision against the incremental revenue. For this reason, marginal analysis is more appropriately called incremental analysis. Not all costs are of equal importance in decision making, and economists must identify these costs that are relevant to a decision. RELEVANT COSTS In many business decision situations, the ultimate management decision rests on cost data analysis. Cost data are important in many decisions, since they are the basis for profit calculations. Cost data are classified by behavior patterns, and other criteria, as discussed previously. However, not all costs are of equal importance in decision making, and managers must identify the costs that are relevant to a decision. Such costs are called relevant costs. The relevant costs are the expected future costs (and also revenues) which differ between the decision alternatives. Therefore, sunk costs (past and historical costs) are not considered relevant in the decision at hand. What is relevant are the incremental (or differential) costs. Under the concept of relevant costs, which may be appropriately titled the incremental, differential, or relevant cost approach, the decision involves the following steps: 1. Gather all costs associated with each alternative. 2. Drop the sunk costs. 3. Drop those costs which do not differ between alternatives. 4. Select the best alternative based on the remaining cost data. EXAMPLE 2 To illustrate the irrelevance of sunk costs and the relevance of incremental costs, let Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 169
us consider a replacement decision problem. A company owns a milling machine that was purchased three years ago for $25,000. Its present book value is $17,500. The company is contemplating replacing this machine with a new one which will cost $50,000 and have a five-year useful life. The new machine will generate the same amount of revenue as the old one but will substantially cut down on variable operating costs. Annual sales and operating costs of the present machine and the proposed replacement are based on normal sales volume of 20,000 units and are estimated as follows: Present Machine $60,000 35,000 2,500 4,000 $18,500 New Machine $60,000 20,000 10,000 4,000 $26,000
Sales Variable Costs Fixed Costs: Depreciation (straight-line) Insurance, Taxes, etc. Net Income
At first glance, it appears that the new machine provides an increase in net income of $7,500 per year. The book value of the present machine, however, is a sunk cost and is irrelevant in this decision. Furthermore, sales and fixed costs such as insurance, taxes, etc., also are irrelevant since they do not differ between the two alternatives being considered. Eliminating all the irrelevant costs leaves us with only the incremental costs, as follows. Savings in variable costs Less: Increase in Fixed Costs Net Annual Cash Saving Arising from the New Machine --------------------------------*exclusive of $2,500 sunk cost $15,000 10,000 $5,000 *
The relevant cost approach assists managers in making important decisions such as whether to accept a below-normal selling price, which products to emphasize, whether to make or buy, whether to sell or process further, how to formulate a bid price on a contract, and how to optimize utilization of capacity. Table 1 summarizes guidelines for typical short-tern decisions.
TABLE 1 DECISION GUIDELINES Decision Special order Description Should a discount-priced order be accepted when there is idle capacity? Should a part be made or bought from a vendor? Should a segment be dropped? Decision Guidelines If regular orders are not affected, accept order when the revenue from the order exceeds the incremental cost. Fixed costs are usually irrelevant. Choose lower-cost option. Fixed costs are usually irrelevant. Often opportunity costs are present. Compare loss in contribution margin with savings in fixed costs. Ignore joint costs. Process further if incremental revenue exceeds incremental cost. Emphasize products with highest contribution margin (CM) per unit of scarce resource (e.g., CM per machine hour).
Make or buy
Closing a segment Sell or process further Scare resources
Should joint products be sold at split-off or processed further? Which products should be emphasized when resources are limited?
LEARNING CURVE In manufacturing, labor hours are often observed to decrease in a definite pattern as labor operations are repeated. More specifically, as the cumulative production doubles, the cumulative average time required per unit will be reduced by some constant percentage, ranging typically from 10 percent to 20 percent. This reduction, and hence related costs, is referred to as the learning curve effect. By convention, learning curves are referred to in terms of the complements of their improvement rates. For example, an 80 percent learning curve denotes a 20 percent decrease in unit time with each doubling of repetitions.
EXAMPLE 3 Suppose that a project is known to have an 80 percent learning curve. It has just taken a laborer 10 hours to produce the first unit. Then each time the cumulative output doubles, the time per unit for that amount should be equal to the previous time multiplied by the learning percentage. An 80 percent learning curve is shown in Figure 4. Unit 1 2 4 8 16 Unit time (hours) 0.8(10) 0.8(8) 0.8(6.4) 0.8(5.12) = = = = 10 8 6.4 5.12 4.096
The learning curve model is as follows: yn = a n- b where yn = a= b= Time for the nth unit Time for the first unit (in this example, 10 hours) The index of the rate of increase in productivity during learning (Log learning rate %/log 2)
To be able to utilize linear regression, we need to convert this power (or exponential) function form into a linear form by taking a log of both sides, which yields: Log yn = log a - b log n The learning rate, which is indicated by b, is estimated using least-squares regression, with the sample data on y and n. Note that Log (learning rate) b = ------------------Log 2 Which means: Log (learning rate) = b x log 2 The unit time (i.e., the number of labor hours required) for the nth can be computed using the estimated model: yn = a n- b
FIGURE 4 AN 80% LEARNING CURVE
NOTE: This learning phenomenon is observed in the behavior of labor and labor driven overhead. Material costs per unit may also be subject to this effect if less scrap and waste occur as a result of learning. EXAMPLE 4 For an 80 percent curve with a = 10 hours, the time for the third unit would be computed as: y3 = 10 (3 - log .8/ log 2 ) = 10 (3-..3219 ) = 7.02 Fortunately, it is not necessary to grind through this model each time a learning calculation is made; values can be found using Table 6 (Learning Curve Coefficients) in the Appendix. The time for the nth unit can be quickly determined by multiplying the table value by the time required for the first unit. EXAMPLE 5 NB Contractors, Inc. is negotiating a contract involving production of 20 jets. The initial jet requires 200 labor-days of direct labor. Assuming an 80 percent learning curve, we will determine the expected number of labor-days for (1) the 20th jet, and (2) all 20 jets as follows: Using Table 7 with n=20 and an 80 percent learning rate, we find: Unit=.381 and Total=10,485. Therefore, (1) Expected time for the 20th jet = 200 (.381)= 76.2 labor-days. (2) Expected total time for all 20 jets = 200(10.485) =2,097 labor-days. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 173
NOTE: The learning curve theory has found useful applications in many areas, including: 1. Budgeting, purchasing, and inventory planning 2. Scheduling labor requirements 3. Setting incentive wage rates 4. Pricing new products 5. Negotiated purchasing 6. Evaluating suppliers price quotations Example 6 illustrates the use of the learning curve theory for the pricing of a contract. EXAMPLE 6 Big Mac Electronics Products, Inc. finds that new product production is affected by an 80 percent learning effect. The company has just produced 50 units of output at 100 hours per unit. Costs were as follows: Materials 50 units @$20 Labor and labor-related costs: Direct labor -- 100 hours @$8 Variable overhead -- 100 hours @$2 $1,000 800 200 $2,000 The company has just received a contract calling for another 50 units of production. It wants to add a 50 percent markup to the cost of materials and labor and labor-related costs. To determine the price for this job, the first step is to build up the learning curve table. Quantity 50 100 Total time (hours) Average time (per unit) 100 2 hours 160 1.6 (.8 x 2 hours)
Thus, for the new 50 unit job, it takes 60 hours in total. The contract price is: Materials 50 units @$20 $1,000 Labor and labor-related costs: Direct labor -- 60 hours @$8 480 Variable overhead -- 60 hours @$2 120 $1,600 50 percent markup 800 Contract price $2,400
COST-VOLUME-PROFIT AND BREAK-EVEN ANALYSIS Cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis allows managers to perform many useful analyses. CVP analysis deals with how profit and costs change with a change in volume. More specifically, it looks at the effects on profits of changes in such factors as variable costs, fixed costs, selling prices, volume, and mix of products sold. By studying the relationships of costs, sales, and net income, management is better able to cope with many planning decisions. Break-even analysis, a branch of CVP analysis, determines the break-even sales. Break-even point--the financial crossover point when revenues exactly match costs--does not show up in corporate earnings reports, but managers find it an extremely useful measurement in a variety of ways. BREAK-EVEN ANALYSIS The break-even point represents the level of sales revenue that equals the total of the variable and fixed costs for a given volume of output at a particular capacity use rate. For example, you might want to ask the break-even occupancy rate (or vacancy rate) for a hotel or the break-even load rate for an airliner. Generally, the lower the break-even point, the higher the profit and the less the operating risk, other things being equal. The break-even point also provides managers with insights into profit planning. The equation approach is based on the cost-volume-profit equation which shows the relationships among sales, variable and fixed costs, and net income. TR = TVC + TFC + Net Income At the break-even volume, TR = TVC + TFC + 0. Defining Q = volume in units, the above relationship can be written in terms of Q: PQ = AVC Q + TFC (P - AVC)Q = TFC Solving for Q yields the following formula for break-even sales volume: TFC Q= -----------(P - AVC) = Total Fixed costs ----------------Unit CM
Without proof, we can obtain the formula for break-even sales in dollars (S), as follows: S= Total Fixed costs -------------------CM ratio
NOTE: The break-even analysis assumes: constant price, constant variable cost per unit, and constant sales mix. Strictly speaking, it is linear break-even analysis. EXAMPLE 7 The Wayne Company manufactures and sells doors to homebuilders. The doors are sold for $25 each. Variable costs are $15 per door, and fixed operating costs total $10,000. The following income (profit/loss) statement is based on a projected sales of 2,000 units:: Total Per Unit Percentag e Sales (2,000 units) $50,000 $25 100% 15 60 Less: Variable 30,000 costs Contribution margin $20,000 $10 40% Less: Fixed costs 5,000 Net income $15,000 Note that (P - AVC) = ($25 - $15) = $10 and (P - AVC)/P =($25 - $15)/$25 = 40% Break-even point in units = $5,000/$10 = 500 units Break-even point in dollars = 500 x $25 = $12,500. Alternatively, $5,000/40% = $12,500 DETERMINATION OF TARGET INCOME VOLUME Besides determining the break-even point, CVP analysis determines the sales required to attain a particular income level or target net income. The formula is: Target income sales volume = Total fixed costs plus Target income / Unit CM EXAMPLE 8 Using the same data given in Example 7, assume that the firm wishes to attain a target income of $15,000. Then, the target income volume would be: ($5,000 + $15,000) / ($25 - $15) = $20,000 / $10 = 2,000 units GRAPHICAL APPROACH IN A SPREADSHEET FORMAT The graphical approach to obtaining the break-even point is based on the so-called break-even (B-E) chart as shown in Figure 5. Sales revenue, variable costs, and fixed costs are plotted on the vertical axis while volume, x, is plotted on the horizontal axis. The break-even point is the point where the total sales revenue line intersects the total cost line. The chart can also effectively report profit potentials over a wide range of activity and therefore be used as a tool for discussion and presentation. OPERATING LEVERAGE Leverage is that portion of the fixed costs which represents a risk to the firm. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 176
Operating leverage, a measure of operating risk, refers to the fixed operating costs found in the firm's income statement. Operating leverage is a measure of operating risk and arises from fixed operating costs. A simple indication of operating leverage is the effect that a change in sales has on operating income.
FIGURE 5 BREAK-EVEN CHART
The formula is: Operating leverage at a given level of sales (Q) = Percentage change in operating income ----------------------------------------Percentage change in sales
(P - AVC) Q / (P - AVC)Q - TFC =
Q / Q
(P - AVC)Q = (P - AVC)Q - TFC
EXAMPLE 9 Assume from Example 7 that the Wayne Company is currently selling 6,000 Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 177
doors per year. Its operating leverage is: (P - AVC) ---------------(P - AVC)Q - TFC ($25 - $15)(6,000) --------------------------($25 - $15)(6,000) - $10,0 00 $60,000 --------$50,000
= 1.2
Which means if sales increase (decrease) by 1 percent, the company can expect its net income to increase (decrease) by 1.2 times that amount, or 1.2 percent. NOTE: Operating leverage is an elasticity measure, since it is the ratio of a percentage change in operating income to a percentage change in sales. QUESTIONS 1. Describe the graphical relationship between corresponding average cost (AC) and marginal cost (MC) curves. 2. List the factors causing larger plants to be more efficient than smaller plants. 3. What is the managerial implication of planning curves (long-run cost curves)? 4. What does statistical cost analysis involve? 5. List the basic steps involved in incremental or relevant cost analysis. 6. Distinguish between incremental analysis and marginal analysis. 7. Give some examples of learning curve applications. 8. What is cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis? How it is useful to managers? 9. List some assumptions underlying break-even analysis. What is the distinction between a managers break-even analysis and an economists break-even analysis? 10. How do you measure operating risk? PROBLEMS 1. Given the cost function for your firm: TC =40 + 4Q + 2Q2 (a) What is the average fixed cost (AFC) of producing 5 units of output? (b) What is the average variable cost (AVC) of producing 5 units of output? (c) What are the average total cost (ATC) and marginal cost (MC) of producing 5 units of output? 2. Given the following total cost (TC) function: 200 + 75Q - 1.5Q2 + .01Q3 (a) Calculate the marginal cost (MC), average variable cost (AVC), average cost (AC), and average fixed cost (AFC) functions. (b) At what level of output does MC reach its minimum? AVC? (c) Determine MC and AVC when AVC is at its minimum. (d) Prove that short-run MC equals AVC when AVC is at its minimum. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 178
3. A firm has the following short-run total cost function: TC = 3,000 + 240Q - 7Q2 + Q3 (a) Write the equations for the firms marginal cost (MC), average variable cost (AVC), and average total cost (ATC). (b) Determine the output level at which MC will be minimized. (c) Determine the output level at which AVC will be minimized. 4. A firm estimates its selling and administrative costs as TC = $45,000 + $60Q + 3Q2 Where Q = sales volume in units. (a) What is the level of fixed selling and administrative costs? (b) Calculate average cost at Q = 50. (c) Calculate the level of output at which average costs would be minimized. 5. Janus Costing Inc., a leading maker of coatings, has estimated the following statistical function for its weekly total cost over the past 26 weeks: TC = $150,000 + (70,000) $7Q (2) + 0.006Q2 (0.001)
r2 = 0.90 Se (standard error of the estimate) = 7.888 Where Q = gallons of enamel and standard errors of the regression coefficients are in parentheses. (a) Comment on the result based on the regression statistics given. (b) Calculate the average cost and comment on it. 6. Carson, Inc., uses a learning curve of 80 percent for all new products it develops. A trial run of 500 units of a new product shows total labor-related costs (direct labor, indirect labor, and fringe benefits) of $120,000. Management plans to produce 1,500 units of the new product during the next year. (a). Compute the expected labor-related costs for the year to produce the 1,500 units. (b). Find the unit cost of production for next year for labor-related costs. 7. The Hunt Company has recently purchased a plant to manufacture a new product. The following data pertain to the new operation:
Estimated annual sales Estimated Costs: Direct materials Direct labor Factory overhead (all fixed) Selling expenses Administrative expenses (all fixed)
3,500 unit @ $20 $6.00/unit $1.00/unit $12,000 per year 30% sales $16,000 per year
(a) Determine the break-even point in units and in dollars. (b) Determine the selling price if profit per unit is $2.04. (c) What is the firms degree of operating leverage at 5,000 units? 8. The Norman Company has an annual plant capacity of 25,000 units. Predicted data on sales and costs are given below: Sales (20,000 units @$50) Manufacturing costs: Variable (materials, labor, and overhead) Fixed overhead Selling and administrative expenses; Variable (sales commission - $1 per unit) Fixed $1,000,000 $40 per unit $30,000 $2 per unit $7,000
A special order has been received from outside for 4,000 units at a selling price of $45 each. The order will have no effect on regular sales. The usual sales commission on this order will be reduced by one-half. Should the company accept the order? Show supporting computations, using incremental analysis based on the concept of relevant cost. ANSWERS 1. The average-marginal relationship between corresponding average and marginal curves is the following: (1) When an average curve (AC) is rising, its corresponding marginal curve (MC) lies above it, (2) when an AC is falling, its corresponding MC lies below, and (3) when an AC is either at a maximum or minimum, its corresponding MC equals AC. 2. The factors causing larger plants to be more efficient than smaller plants include (1) more opportunity for specialization in the use of resource inputs; (2) the fact that the most advanced and efficient technology is practical only when producing large volumes of output; (3) the greater ability of larger plants to take advantage of and utilize by-products; (4) the greater opportunities for larger plants to make volume purchases of raw materials and thereby realize quantity discounts; and (5) the proportionately lower costs of purchasing and installing larger machines and equipment. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 180
3. A planning curve is a locus of points representing the least unit cost of producing the corresponding output. Firms determine the size of plant by reference to this curve. 4. Statistical cost analysis is an empirical attempt to ascertain the nature of short-run or long-run cost/output relations. Cost curves are estimated, via statistical techniques such as regression analysis, based on time-series or cross-sectional data. Three types of functions--linear, quadratic, and cubic--especially the first two, have been most commonly employed in fitting statistical cost functions. The choice of one or the other depends largely on the extent to which the mathematical properties of the function represent the economics of the particular case. 5. The incremental, differential, or relevant cost approach involves the following steps: 1. Gather all costs associated with each alternative. 2. Drop the sunk costs. 3. Drop those costs which do not differ between alternatives. 4. Select the best alternative based on the remaining cost data. 6. Incremental analysis is frequently used in the practical equivalent of marginal analysis. It relates to a specified managerial decision which can involve a choice between two discrete quantities of output (e.g., 10,000 units vs. 15,000 units), while marginal analysis focuses on the impact on revenue or costs of one unit change in volume. 7. The learning curve theory has found useful applications in many areas, including: (a) Budgeting, purchasing, and inventory planning, (b) scheduling labor requirements, (c) setting incentive wage rates, (d) pricing new products, and (e) evaluating suppliers price quotations. 8. Cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis helps managers perform many useful analyses. It allows managers to look at the effects on profits of changes in such factors as variable costs, fixed costs, selling prices, volume, and mix of products sold. 9. A managers break-even analysis assumes: constant price, constant variable cost per unit, and constant sales mix. Strictly speaking, it is linear break-even analysis. On the other hand, an economists break-even analysis may produce more than one break-even sales volume. 10. Operating leverage is used to measure operating risk. It tells you how sensitive income is to a change in sales. It is essentially an elasticity measure, since it is the ratio of a percentage change in operating income to a percentage change in sales. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS 1.
(a) FC =40 ; AFC = FC/Q = 40/5 = $8 (b) VC = 4Q + 2Q2 ; AVC = VC/Q = = 4 + 2Q = 4 + 2(5) = $14 (c) ATC = AVC + AFC = $14 + $8 = $22; MC = dTC/dQ = 4 + 4Q = 4 + 4(5) = $24
2. (a) MC = dTC/dQ = 75 - 3Q + .03Q2 AVC = TVC/Q = 75 - 1.5Q + .01Q2 AC = TC/Q = 200/Q + 75 - 1.5Q + .01Q2 AFC = 200/Q (b) MC = dTC/dQ = 75 - 3Q + .03Q2 dMC/dQ = -3 + .06Q = 0; Q = 50, so MC is minimized at an output level of 50 units. AVC = TVC/Q = 75 - 1.5Q + .01Q2 dAVC/dQ = -1.5 + .02Q = 0; Q = 75, so AVC is minimized at an output level of 75 units. AFC = 200/Q (c) From part (b), Q = 75 when AVC is minimized AVC = 75 - 1.5Q + .01Q2 = 75 - 1.5(75) + .01(75)2 = 75 - 112.5 + 56.25 = 18.75 MC = 75 - 3Q + .03Q2 = 75 - 3(75) + .-3(75)2 = 75 - 225 + 168.75 = 18.75. (d) MC = AVC = 18.75 This proves that MC equals AVC when AVC is at its minimum in a short-run situation. 3. (a) MC = dTC/dQ = 240 - 14Q + 3Q2 AVC = TVC/Q = 240 - 7Q + Q2 ATC = TC/Q = 3,000/Q +240Q - 7Q + Q2
(b) From part (a), MC = 240 - 14Q + 3Q2 dMC/dQ = -14 + 6Q = 0; Q = 2.33 (c) From part (a), AVC = 240 - 7Q + Q2 dAVC/dQ = -7 + 2Q = 0; Q = 3.5 4. (a) $45,000, which is the intercept term for TC at Q = 0. (b) ATC = TC/Q = 45000/Q + 60 + 3Q = 45000/50 + 60 + 3(50) = $1,110. (c) Set dATC/dQ = 0; dATC/dQ =-45000/Q2 + 3 = 0; Q2 = 45000/3 = 15000; Q = Note d2ATC/dQ2 = 45000/Q3 > 0, Q = 122 is at a minimum. = 122.
5. (a) r2 = 0.90 implying that this quadratic cost model accounts for 90 percent of total cost. It is a good fit. t-statistic for each coefficient (7/2 = 3.5 and .006/0001 - 6) exceeds the t-table value = 2.069 (at a 5% level and n - k = 26 - 3 = 23 degrees of freedom). So these coefficient estimates are reliable. (b) ATC = TC/Q = 150000/Q + 7 + .0006Q. Thus we see that AC will first fall, then rise as output expands, and will be U-shaped. 6.
(a) The 80 percent learning theory says that as cumulative quantities double, average time per unit falls to only 80 percent of the previous time. Therefore, the following data can be constructed: Quantity 500 units 1,000 2,000 Thus, Quantity 2,000 500 1,500 Total Cost $308,000 120,000 $188,000 Time Cost $120,000 192,000 308,000 Average Cost per Unit $240 per unit 192 (80% x $240) 154 (80% x $192)
(b) Thus, expected labor-related costs for the 1,500 units of output is $188,000 and $125.33 per unit ($188,000/1,500 units).
7.
(a) Variable Costs Direct materials Direct labor Selling expenses $ 6.00 1.00 6.00 $13.00 per Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 183
unit Fixed Costs Factory overhead Administrative $12,000 16,000 $28,000
Break even point in units = $28,000/($20 - $13) = $4,000 units Break-even point in dollars = 4,000 units x $20 = $80,000 (b) TR = TVC + TFC + Net Income Let P = then, the selling price 3,500P = $7(3,500) + .3P(3,500) + 28,000 + 2.04(3,500) 2,450P = $59,640 P = $24.34
(c) Its operating leverage is: (P - AVC) -------------------(P - AVC)Q - TFC = ($20 - $13)(5,000) ----------------------------($20 - $13)(5,000) - $28,0 00 = $35,000 -------$ 7,000 =5
Which means if sales increase (decrease) by 1 percent, the company can expect its net income to increase (decrease) by 5 times that amount, or 5 percent. 8. Note that fixed costs will continue regardless and therefore are irrelevant to this decision. Incremental revenue (4,000 units @ $45) Less: Incremental costs Variable manufacturing (4,000 units @$40) Variable selling and administrative (4,000 @ $1.50*) Incremental gain in favor of accepting the order $180,000 160,000 6,000 $14,000
* $1.50 = $2 (variable selling and administrative expenses) - $.50 (sales commission to be saved)
CHAPTER 8 QUIZ 1. In an analysis of economic costs of production, long run means A. More than 1 year but less than 5 years. B. Five or more years. C. A period of time long enough to turn over top management. D. A period of time long enough for the firm to make all resource costs variable in nature. 2. In the economic theory of production and cost, the short run is defined to be a production process A. Which spans a time period of less than one year in length. B. In which both fixed and variable inputs are employed. C. That is subject to economies of scale. D. That always produces economic profits. 3. The percentage change in operating income associated with the percentage change in sales volume is the degree of A. Operating leverage. B. Financial leverage. C. Breakeven leverage. D. Combined leverage. 4. The manager of the assembly department of a company would like to estimate the fixed and variable components of the departments cost. To do so, the manager has collected information on total cost and output for the past 24 months. To estimate the fixed and variable components of total cost, the manager should use A. Regression analysis. B. Game theory. C. Sensitivity analysis. D. Queuing theory. 5. The long-run average total cost (ATC) curve A. Is horizontal and parallel to the demand curve. B. Is strongly influenced by diminishing returns. C. Is the same as the rising portion of the marginal cost curve. D. Is ordinarily U-shaped. 6. A firm produces only 5 units of output. If total variable cost is $400, and total fixed cost is $200, then A. Marginal cost is $120. B. Average total cost is $600. C. Average fixed cost is $200. D. Average variable cost is $80.
7. When a decision is made in an organization, it is selected from a group of alternative courses of action. The loss associated with choosing the alternative that does not maximize the benefit is the A. Net realizable value. B. Opportunity cost. C. Expected value. D. Incremental cost. 8. Hyocraft Inc. received a request for a competitive bid for the sale of one of its unique boating products with a desired modification. Hyoacraft is now in the process of manufacturing this product but with a slightly different modification for another customer. These unique products are labor intensive and both will have long production runs. Which one of the following methods should Hyocraft use to estimate the cost of the new competitive bid? A. Expected value analysis. B. Regression analysis. C. Learning curve analysis. D. Continuous probability simulation. 9. The dollar amount of sales revenues needed to attain a target income is calculated by dividing the contribution margin (CM) ratio into A. Fixed cost. B. Target income. C. Target income plus fixed costs. D. Target income less fixed costs.
CHAPTER 8 ANSWER KEY 1. (D) is correct. In the long run, no resource costs are fixed. A firm can therefore vary the amount of any of its inputs. In the short run, one or more inputs are fixed. (A) is incorrect. No specific time frame is contemplated by the definition. (B) is incorrect. Long run doe not specify any particular time frame. (C) is incorrect. Top management is but one of many inputs. The long run is the period within which all inputs can be varied. 2. (B) is correct. The short run is defined as a period so brief that a firm has insufficient time to vary the amount of all inputs. Thus, the quantity of one or more inputs is fixed. The long run is a period long enough that all inputs, including plant capacity, can be varied. The firm will thus use both fixed and variable inputs in the short run. (A) is incorrect. The short run can be more or less than a year depending upon a firm's ability to change its inputs. (C) is incorrect. Economies of scale are associated with the long run. (D) is incorrect. Economic profits may be earned, either in the long or short run, when a firm earns more than the profits needed for it to remain in operation. 3. (A) is correct. Operating leverage is a measure of operating risk and arises from the firm's use of fixed operating costs. A simple indication of operating leverage is the effect that a change in sales has on operating income. (B) is incorrect. The degree of financial leverage equals the percentage change in net income divided by the percentage change in operating income. (C) is incorrect. The breakeven point is the sales volume at which total revenue equals total costs. (D) is incorrect. The degree of total (combined) leverage equals the percentage change in net income divided by the percentage change in sales. 4. (A) is correct. Regression analysis is a statistical technique for measuring the relationship between variables. It estimates the component of the dependent variable that varies with changes in the independent variable and the component that does not vary. (B) is incorrect. Game theory is a mathematical approach to decision making in which the actions of competitors are considered.
(C) is incorrect. Sensitivity analysis studies how changes in one or more variables affect the solution of a quantitative model. (D) is incorrect. Queuing theory is used to minimize the sum of the costs of waiting lines and servicing waiting lines when items arrive randomly at a service point and are serviced sequentially. 5. (D) is correct. The long-run AC (LRAC) curve is normally U-shaped because the average cost (AC) per unit declines as the firm experiences economies of scale. However, beyond the point of intersection with the MC curve, it will begin rising because the amount added (marginal cost) to total cost is greater than the AC. (A) is incorrect. The curve is not horizontal. It varies with changes in production scale. (B) is incorrect. Although returns to incremental input may be diminishing and marginal cost rising, AC may continue to decline. (C) is incorrect. The AC curve is a U-shaped curve that is intersected at its minimum point by the rising portion of the marginal cost curve. 6. (D) is correct. If total variable cost (TVC) is $400 for 5 units, the average variable cost (AVC) is $80. The average fixed cost (AFC) is $40 ($200 5), and the average total cost is $120 ($80 + $40). (A) is incorrect. The MC cannot be accurately determined from the information given, but is most likely equal to the $80 of unit variable cost. (B) is incorrect. The average total cost is $120. (C) is incorrect. The average fixed cost is $40. 7. (B) is correct. Opportunity cost is the maximum benefit obtainable from the next best alternative use of a resource. It is the benefit given up by not selecting that option. (A) is incorrect. Net realizable value is the value of an asset net of any disposal costs.
(C) is incorrect. Expected value is a probabilistically weighted average of potential outcomes.
(D) is incorrect. An incremental cost is the additional cost of selecting one option rather than another. 8. (C) is correct. The learning curve is based on the proposition that labor hours decrease in a definite pattern as labor operations are repeated. More specifically, it Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 188
is based on the statistical findings that as the cumulative production doubles, the cumulative average time required per unit will be reduced by some constant percentage, ranging typically from 10 percent to 20 percent. By convention, learning curves are referred to in terms of the complements of their improvement rates. The result should be shorter production time and lower costs. (A) is incorrect. Expected value analysis selects the best decision involving risk by multiplying the probability of each outcome by its payoff, and summing the products. (B) is incorrect. Regression analysis is used to find an equation for the linear relationships among variables. (D) is incorrect. Simulation would not be appropriate for a single project. 9. (C) is correct. Breakeven analysis treats the target income in the same way as fixed costs. The CM ratio is divided into the sum of fixed costs plus target profit. (A) is incorrect. The result would be the break-even point, not the sales needed to earn a target income. (B) is incorrect. Fixed costs must be added to target income. (D) is incorrect. Fixed costs must be added (not subtracted from) to target income.
CHAPTER 9 MARKETS AND THE BEHAVIOR OF THE FIRM LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Explain the conditions for perfect competition. Illustrate monopolistic competition. Define and discuss Oligopoly. Compute the four-firm concentration ratio. Illustrate and implement the concepts related to Herfindahl-Hirshman. Explain the Rothschild Index Compute the Lerner Index.
Market structure refers to such factors as the number of firms in an industry, the relative size of the firms (industry concentration), demand conditions, ease of entry and exit, and technological and cost conditions. Different industries have different structures, and these influence the decisions to be made by the manager. Competition proceeds along different lines, depending on whether there are many or few firms in the industry and whether their products are identical or differentiated. From this standpoint, four main forms of market structure and types of competition exist: 1. 2. 3. 4. Perfect competition: many sellers of a standardized product. Monopolistic competition: many sellers of a differentiated product. Oligopoly: few sellers of either a standardized or a differentiated product. Monopoly: a single seller of a product for which there is no close substitute.
PERFECT COMPETITION Perfect competition is an economic model or market structure possessing the following characteristics: (1) each firm is so small relative to the market that it can exert no perceptible influence on price; (2) the product is homogeneous; (3) there is free mobility of all resources, including free entry and exit of firms into and out of the industry; and (4) all buyers and sellers in the market possess complete and perfect knowledge. A firm in a perfectly competitive industry operates at an output level where price (or marginal revenue) equals marginal cost and profits are maximized (see Figure 1). In reality, there is no industry that is perfectly competitive. Empirical evidence suggests that agricultural and lumber industries provide close approximations to perfect competition.
EXAMPLE 1 If P = $10 then TR = PQ = $10Q and MR = $10 (Note that this indicates MR = P in a perfectly competitive market). Assuming TC = 6 + 4Q + Q2, then MC = dTC/dQ = 4 + 2Q. Total profit is: = TR TC = 10Q (6 + 4Q + Q2) = -6 + 6Q Q2. In order to maximize we take the derivative of with respect to Q, set it equal to zero, and solve for Q: d/dQ = 6 2Q = 0; Q = 3 units. Long-Run In the short run, a firm should continue operating as long as selling price exceeds average variable cost (a contribution margin is earned). If selling price drops below average variable cost, variable costs as well as fixed costs are no longer being met, and the firm should shut down. Under pure competition, the portion of a firm's marginal cost (MC) curve above its average variable cost curve (the firm cannot cover its variable costs below this shutdown point) is also its supply curve in the short run. Because the firm is a price taker [the marginal revenue (MR) curve is horizontal], increases in supply can occur only at higher prices because the firm produces at the level at which MR equals MC. In the long-run, all inputs are free to vary. Average cost will tend to be just equal to price and all excessive profits will be eliminated. If P exceeds AC, more firms will enter the market, supply will increase, and price will be driven down to the equilibrium, zero-profit level (see Figure 2). It is economic profit that is zero at long run equilibrium; the accounting profit likely will be positive. In summary, at the long-run profit-maximizing level of output under perfect competition, equilibrium will be achieved at a point where P = MR = MC = AC, and the firm is producing at its most efficient level of output; i.e., where long-run average costs are minimized.
FIGURE 1 PERFECT COMPETITION SHORT-RUN EQUILIBRIUM
FIGURE 2 PERFECT COMPETITION LONG-RUN EQUILIBRIUM
MONOPOLISTIC COMPETITION The distinguishing features of monopolistic competition are that there are (1) many small, owner managed firms selling differentiated, yet similar, products; (2) each firm has the ability to influence its sales by changing its prices; (3) each firm has down-sloping, but highly elastic, demand curves; (4) a firm can enter and leave the industry with relative ease; (5) the actions of any one firm have a small effect upon rival firms; and (6) firms behave as if they seek to maximize profits. The firm in monopolistic competition has three basic strategies for pursuing its principal goal of maximum profits price changes, variations in its product, and Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 192
promotional activity. Like every type of firm, a firm in monopolistic competition will maximize short run profits by producing at the output rate where MR= MC. OLIGOPOLY Markets are said to be oligopolistic whenever a small number of firms supply the dominant share of an industry's total output. The interdependence among oligopolists extends to all facets of competition: price, output, promotional strategies, innovation, customer service policies, acquisitions and mergers, and so on. Since rival firms may have numerous alternative courses of action, anticipating their actions and reactions introduces a new and exceedingly complex dimension to the firm's decision process. But trying to anticipate the competitive response of rival firms is an exercise no oligopolist can afford to neglect, for the probability is high that a change in a firm's competitive tactics will elicit prompt and pointed reactions from rival firms. The great uncertainty is how one's rivals will react. For this reason, there is no nice, neat, clear-cut equilibrium position toward which all firms tend to movesuch as we found in perfect competition and monopolistic competition. In oligopoly, a wide variety of materially different competitive circumstances can and do exist, no one of which is demonstrably more typical than others. As a consequence, oligopoly theory consists of dozens of models, each depicting certain facets of oligopolistic conduct and performance, but none telling a complete story of competition among the few. GAME THEORY Game theory deals with competitive situations where two or more participants pursue conflicting objectives. The theory attempts to provide optimal strategies for the participants. In games, the participants are competitors; the success of one is usually at the expense of the other. Each company selects and executes those strategies which he believes will result in "winning the game." This theory attempts to explain the price-output decisions of firms in oligopolistic industries and the labor contract negotiations between management and labor. There are many different types of games which reflect different conflict situations. A two-person, zero-sum game is an example. In this game, the participants have exactly opposite interests; that is, one players gain is the other players loss. EXAMPLE 2 A two-person game can be represented in a matrix format. Assume that two rival firms are considering advertising or product differentiation strategies that will have predictable effects on the share of the total market obtained by each.
PAYOFF MATRIX FOR A TWO-FIRM, ZERO-SUM GAME (Outcomes in terms of Firm As percentage share of Market) Bs Strategy As Strategy A1 A2 A3 B1 85 80 15A
B
B2 60 B 70 35
B3 45A B 55A 50
Value of game 55
It has been shown in theory that a two-person, zero-sum game will have a determinate solution as long as a specific rule, known as the minimax principle, holds and mixed strategies are permitted. This principle assumes that for each strategy one chooses, the opposition will choose a strategy that maximizes its share of the payoff. Therefore, one chooses a strategy that minimizes the opponents maximum gain. To illustrate, in the above example, (a) A will choose strategy A2B3 = 55, which is mathematically max min i j aij = A2B3 = 55
It indicates that A should choose the strategy which maximizes the minimum payoff associated with each row of the game matrix (places the letter A in the upper right-hand corner) (b) B will choose strategy A2B3 = 55, which is mathematically min max aij = A2B3 = 55 j i Which indicates B should choose the strategy which minimizes the maximum payoff (placed the letter B in the upper left-hand corner). (c) Whenever As minimum gain is equal to Bs maximum loss or, in other words, when max min aij = min max i j aij = ai*j* = v = A2B3 = 55 j i
The game is said to have a saddle point or equilibrium at (i*, j*) and the value of the game (v) is equal to ai*j*. For the example (i*=2, j*=3) constitutes a saddle point and the value of the game (v) is equal to 55% market share.
MONOPOLY A key difference between the market situation confronting a pure monopolist and that confronting other enterprises is that the firm's demand curve coincides with the industry demand curve. The firm is the industry. The price-output decision for a profit-maximizing monopolist is illustrated in Figure 3. Just as in the case of perfect competition, profit is maximized at the price output combination where MR = MC. Apparently, for a negative-sloping demand curve (e.g., P = a bQ), the MR function is not the same as the demand function. If P = a bQ then TR = PQ = aQ bQ2 and MR = a 2bQ. So the slope of the demand function is b, and the MR function 2b. FIGURE 3 MONOPOLISTS EQUILIBRIUM
EXAMPLE 3 Assume a monopolist is faced with the demand function, Q = 400 2P (or P = 200 - 0.5Q) and TC = 35Q + 0.05Q2 The profit-maximizing output will be at MR =MC. First, TR = PQ = (200 - 0.5Q)Q = 200Q - 0.5Q2. So MR = 200 - Q Note that MC = 35 + 0.1Q Setting MR = MC yields 200 - Q = 35 + 0.1Q; Q = 150 units Substituting Q = 136 back into the demand function yields: Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 195
P = 200 - 0.5Q = 200 - 0.5Q(150) = $125 Hence, the profit-maximizing monopolist would produce 150 units and charge a price of $125 each. This yields a profit of
= TR TC = PQ - (35Q + 0.05Q2) = ($125)(150) [(35(150) + 0.05(150)2] = $12,375.
INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION Different industries have different market structures, and these influence the decisions to be made by the manager. The following provides an overview of the major structural variables and how they are measured. MEASURES OF INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION There are two common measures used to gauge the degree of concentration in an industry. (1) Concentration Ratios and (2) Herfindahl-Hirshman Index. Concentration Ratios Concentration ratios measure how much of the total output in an industry is manufactured by the largest firms in that industry. A high concentration ratio is an indicator of monopolistic power. The most popular concentration ratio is the four-firm concentration ratio (C4). It is the fraction of total industry sales produced by the four largest firms in the industry. The ratio is given by C4 = (S1 + S2 + S3 + S4)/ST = w1 + w2 + w3 + w4 Where ST = the total sales of all firms in the industry, S1, S2, S3, and S4 = the sales of the four largest firms, and w1, w2,, w3, and w4 = market shares of the four largest firms. EXAMPLE 4 An industry is made up of six firms. Four firms have sales of $1 million each, and two firms have sales of $500,000 each. Then the four-firm concentration ratio for this industry is 80%, as computed below. Total industry sales are ST = $5 million. The sales of the four largest firms = $4 million. The ratio is $4 million/$ 5 million = .8 = 80% Herfindahl-Hirshman Index The Herfindahl-Hirshman Index (HHI) is the sum of the squared market shares multiplied by 10,000 to eliminate the need for decimals. 10,000 wi2 By squaring the market shares before adding them up, the index weights firms with high market shares more heavily. EXAMPLE 5 Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 196
Suppose an industry consists of three firms. Two firms have sales of $1million each, and one firm has sales of $3 million. Since total industry sales are ST = $5 million, the largest firm has a market share of .6 = 3/5 and the other two firms have a market share of .2 = 1/5 each. Thus, the Herfindahl-Hirshman index for this industry is 10,000[(.6)2 + (.2)2 + (.2)2] = 4,400 Note that the four-firm concentration ratio is 1, since the top three firms account for all industry sales. NOTE: 1. Four-firm concentration ratios are between 0 and 1. Being close to 0 indicates markets in which there are many sellers, giving rise to much competition, while being close to 1 indicates markets in which there is little competition among producers for sales to consumers. 2. The value of the Herfindahl-Hirshman Index lies between 0 and 10,000. A value of 10,000 exists when a monopolist exists in the industry. A value of zero results when there are numerous infinitesimally small firms.
EXAMPLE 6 (Antitrust guidelines) In an effort to provide guidelines as to what type of business combinations would and would not be challenged in antitrust actions, the Justice Department uses the Herfindahl-Hirshman Index. It essentially breaks all business combinations into the three broad types: horizontal integration, vertical integration, and conglomeration. Market Shared Squared Less than 1,000 1,000 1,800 More than 1,800 Likelihood of Challenge Unlikely Possible Likely
Consider this hypothetical market share breakdown in the widget industry: Widget Industry Market Share Data Market Share Company A 41% Company B 26% Company C 18% Company D 8% Company E 5% Company F 2%
Market Share Squared 1,681 676 324 64 25 4
Note: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in conjunction with the antitrust division of the Justice Department, has broad authority to enforce the antitrust laws. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 197
Since mergers may lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly under the terms of the Clayton Act, they are scrutinized by the FTC and the Justice Department. What does this mean? It is obvious that Company A cannot combine with either Company B or C, but how about Company E? Company A would be prohibited from combining with any other company. Combining the market shares of Company A and any other company and then squaring them would produce a number higher than 1,800. WRONG CALCULATION Market Share 41% 2% Market Share Squared 1,681 4 1,685
Company A Company F
Note: Do not make this mistake unless you are hungry for attention by the antitrust division of the Justice Department.) Correct Calculation Market Share 41% 2% 43% Market Share Squared
Company A Company F
1,849
MEASURES OF INDUSTRY CHARACTERISTICS Industries also differ with regard to the underlying demand and market conditions. Presented below are two measures describing industry characteristics: the Rothschild Index and the Lerner Index. THE ROTHSCHILD INDEX The elasticity of demand for products tends to vary from industry to industry. Moreover, the elasticity of demand for an individual firm's products generally will differ from the market elasticity of demand for the products. The Rothschild Index (R) provides a measure of how price sensitive an individual firm's demand is relative to the entire market. It is computed as R = eT/eI Where eT is the elasticity of demand for the total market and eI is the elasticity of demand for the product of an individual firm. The Rothschild Index takes on a value between 0 and 1. (a) When R = 1, the individual firm faces a demand curve that has the same sensitivity to price as the market demand curve. (b) When R is close to 0, an industry is composed of many firms, each Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 198
producing similar products. EXAMPLE 7 The industry elasticity of demand for softwood lumber is 1 and the elasticity of demand for an individual lumber mill is 5. The Rothschild Index for this industry is 1/5 = 0.2. THE LERNER INDEX In addition to structural differences across industries, the conduct, or behavior, of firms also tends to differ across industries. Some industries charge higher markups than other industries. The Lerner Index (L) provides a measure of how much firms in an industry mark up their prices over marginal cost. L = (P - MC)/P (a) In industries in which firms rigorously compete for consumer sales by attempting to charge the lowest price in the market, L is close to zero. (b) When firms do not rigorously compete for consumers through price competition, L is closer to l. EXAMPLE 8 A firm in the lumber industry has a marginal cost of $200 and charges a price of $220. The Lerner Index is ($220 $200)/$220 = .09. QUESTIONS 1. List the major determinants of market structure. 2. State the conditions that yield a perfectly competitive market. 3. What is the condition for the long-run profit-maximizing level of output for a perfect competitor? 4. Do the four-firm concentration ratio and the Herfindahl-Hirshman Index always provide an accurate evaluation of market power? Explain. 5. List two measures describing industry characteristics and briefly define each. PROBLEMS 1. Stellar Company is operating under highly competitive market conditions. The going price for its product is P = $250. If the firms marginal cost function is MC = -300 + 20Q then what is the firms profit maximizing output? 2. Marie Clothing is operating under highly competitive market conditions and has the following long run total cost function: TC = 45 - 2.5Q + .04Q2 If the firms cost function remains stable, what will be the long-run price for Maries product? 3. Nolo, Inc. is a monopolist facing the following demand and total cost functions: Q = 25 - .5P Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 199
TC = 50 + 2Q (a) What is the firms inverse demand function? (b) What are the profit-maximizing levels of output and price? (c) What will be the level of profits? 4. There are six firms in an industry. Firm A has 40 percent of the market, Firm B has 30 percent, and the remaining firms have 7.5 percent each. (a) Compute the four-firm concentration ratio. (b) Compute the Herfindahl-Hirshman Index. ANSWERS 1. Market structure refers to such factors as the number of firms in an industry, the relative size of the firms (industry concentration), demand conditions, ease of entry and exit, and technological and cost conditions. 2. The conditions for perfect competition includes: (1) each firm is so small relative to the market that it can exert no perceptible influence on price; (2) the product is homogeneous; (3) there is free mobility of all resources, including free entry and exit of firms into and out of the industry; and (4) all buyers and sellers in the market possess complete and perfect knowledge. 3. In the long-run, equilibrium will be achieved at a point where P = MR = MC = AC, and the firm is producing at its most efficient level of output; i.e., where long-run average costs are minimized. 4. These two statistics measure different aspects of market structure and therefore may not accurately describe the degree of market power. Both neglect the geographical market, and foreign competition. 5. They are the Rothschild and the Lerner indexes. The Rothschild Index measures how price sensitive an individual firm's demand is relative to the entire market, while the Lerner Index (L) measures how much firms in an industry markup their prices over marginal cost. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS 1. Profits are maximized where MR = MC. MR = P = 250; MC = -300 + 20Q 250 = -300 + 20Q; Q* = 27.5 2. The long-run equilibrium price will be where P = minimum LAC, where LAC = LTC/Q = 45 - 2.5Q + .04Q2 We find minimum LAC where dLAC/dQ = 0 dLAC/dQ = - 2.5 + .08Q = 0 Q = 31.25 Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 200
At Q = 31.25, LAC = 45 - 2.5Q + .04Q2 = = 45 - 2.5(31.25) + .04(31.25)2 = $20 The long-run price for the firms product will be $20. 3. (a) P = 50 - 2Q (b) TR = PQ = (50 - 2Q)Q = 50Q - 2Q2 At profit maximizing output, MR = MC MR = dTR/dQ = 50 - 4Q; MC = dTC/dQ = 2 Hence. 50 - 4Q = 2; Q* = 12; P = 50 - 2Q = 50 - 2(12) = $26 (c) Profits = TR - TC = 50Q - 2Q2 - (50 + 2Q) = -50 + 48Q -2Q2 = -50 + 48(12) - 2(12)2 = $238. 4. (a) The four-firm concentration ratio = .4 + .3 + .075 + .075 = .85 = 85% (b) The Herfindahl-Hirshman Index = 10,000[(.4)2 + (.3)2 + (.075)2 + (.075)2 + (.075)2 + (.075)2] = 2,725
CHAPTER 9 QUIZ 1. In the short run, a perfectly competitive firm operating at a loss will A. Shut down. B. Continue to operate as long as price exceeds average variable costs. C. Raise the price of its product. D. Reduce the size of its plant to lower fixed costs. 2. The marketing department of your company is deciding on the price to charge for a key product. In setting this price, marketing needs to consider the price that a major competitor will charge for a similar product because the competitors price will affect the demand for your companys product. Similarly, in setting its price, the competitor will consider what your company will charge. An appropriate mathematical technique for analyzing such a decision is A. Game theory. B. Probability theory. C. Linear programming. D. Sensitivity analysis. 3. The procedure for choosing the smallest maximum alternative loss is A. Deterministic decision making. B. Maximax. C. Expected value decision making. D. Minimax. 4. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) is used by the Department of Justice of to evaluate horizontal merges. TRUE / FALSE 5. Under perfect competition, in the long run, an increase in profit will have no effect on the number of firms in the market. TRUE / FALSE 6. An industry that is oligopolistic would be best characterized by A. One firm selling a product with no close substitutes. B. The absence of the profit-maximizing goal. C. Significant barriers to entry. D. Horizontal or flat demand curves for the output of individual firms. 7. In the short run, the marginal cost (MC) curve is the supply curve for the firm in A. Perfect monopoly. B. Perfect competition. C. Monopolistic competition. D. Oligopoly. 8. A high concentration ratio is A. An indicator of monopolistic power. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 202
B. An indicator of a highly competitive industry. C. Consistent with the law of demand. D. Consistent with monopolistic competition.
CHAPTER 9 ANSWER KEY 1. (B) is correct. In the short run, a firm should continue operating as long as selling price exceeds average variable cost (a contribution margin is earned). If selling price drops below average variable cost, variable costs as well as fixed costs are no longer being met, and the firm should shut down. (A) is incorrect. Assuming price exceeds average variable costs, a shutdown would result in the loss of the contribution margin. Since fixed costs are not avoided by shutting down, the firm should continue to produce in the short run as long as it covers its variable costs. (C) is incorrect. In perfect competition a single firm has no influence on price. (D) is incorrect. This could only be accomplished in the long run. 2. (A) is correct. Game theory deals with competitive situations where two or more participants pursue conflicting objectives. The theory attempts to provide optimal strategies for the participants. In games, the participants are competitors; the success of one is usually at the expense of the other. Games are classified according to the number of players and the algebraic sum of the payoffs. In a two person game, if the payoff is given by the loser to the winner, the algebraic sum is zero and the game is called a zero-sum game. If it is possible for both players to profit, however, the game is a positive-sum game. Mathematical models have been developed to select optimal strategies for certain simple games. (B) is incorrect. Probability theory is used to express quantitatively the likelihood of occurrence of an event. (C) is incorrect. Linear programming optimizes an objective function subject to constraints. (D) is incorrect. Sensitivity analysis studies the effects of changes in variables on the results of a decision model. 3. (D) is correct. In game theory, the minimax decision criterion selects the strategy that will minimize the maximum possible loss. It is a technique used by a risk-averse player. The maximin criterion, which chooses the strategy with the maximum minimum payoff, gives the same results as the minimax procedure. (A) is incorrect. Deterministic decision making is based upon fixed (nonprobabilistic) inputs into the decision process. (B) is incorrect. Maximax is a criterion that maximizes the maximum possible profit. (C) is incorrect. Expected value decision making is a risk-neutral process that selects the strategy that should maximize value in the long run. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 204
4. (T) is correct. The HHI is used to determine market shares of all firms in the post-combination market after a horizontal merger. At issue is whether the merger results in excessive market concentration. (F) is incorrect. The HHI is used for horizontal, not vertical, merges. At issue is whether the merger results in excessive market concentration. 5. (F) is correct. Perfect competition is an economic model or market structure possessing the following characteristics: (1) each firm is so small relative to the market that it can exert no perceptible influence on price; (2) the product is homogeneous; (3) there is free mobility of all resources, including free entry and exit of firms into and out of the industry; and (4) all buyers and sellers in the market possess complete and perfect knowledge. Given free entry into the market and perfect information, an increase in profits in the industry will result in an increase in the number of firms in the market. This increase will have the long-run effect of reducing the price to the level at which no economic profits are earned. (T) is incorrect. Given free entry into the market and perfect information, an increase in profits in the industry will result in an increase in the number of firms in the market. 6. (C) is correct. Markets are said to be oligopolistic whenever a small number of firms supply the dominant share of an industry's total output. Usually there are significant barriers to entry, such as high capital requirements, which prevent new firms from entering the industry. The automobile industry is an example. (A) is incorrect. An industry with a single firm is monopolistic. (B) is incorrect. Oligopolists have the same profit-maximizing goal as other firms. (D) is incorrect. The demand curve for a firm in perfect competition is horizontal. An oligopolist's demand curve is relatively flat but may be kinked if competitors follow its price decreases but not the price increases. 7. (B) is correct. Under perfect competition, the portion of a firm's marginal cost (MC) curve above its average variable cost curve (the firm cannot cover its variable costs below this shutdown point) is also its supply curve in the short run. Because the firm is a price taker [the marginal revenue (MR) curve is horizontal], increases in supply can occur only at higher prices because the firm produces at the level at which MR equals MC. (A) is incorrect. The marginal revenue curve is downward sloping in these cases. Thus, the point on the MC curve equal to MR indicates the profit-maximizing quantity but not the price. The price is found by extending a perpendicular line to the demand curve from the MR = MC point. In other words, the price (vertical) coordinate of each point on the MC curve does not equal the market price at a given Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 205
level of output except in perfect competition. In perfect MR curve is the firm's demand curve.
competition, however, the
(C) is incorrect. The marginal revenue curve is downward sloping in these cases. Thus, the point on the MC curve equal to MR indicates the profit-maximizing quantity but not the price. The price is found by extending a perpendicular line to the demand curve from the MR = MC point. In other words, the price (vertical) coordinate of each point on the MC curve does not equal the market price at a given level of output except in perfect competition. In perfect competition, however, the MR curve is the firm's demand curve. (D) is incorrect. The marginal revenue curve is downward sloping in these cases. Thus, the point on the MC curve equal to MR indicates the profit-maximizing quantity but not the price. The price is found by extending a perpendicular line to the demand curve from the MR = MC point. In other words, the price (vertical) coordinate of each point on the MC curve does not equal the market price at a given level of output except in perfect competition. In perfect competition, however, the MR curve is the firm's demand curve. 8. (A) is correct. The concentration ratio is the percentage of total industry sales attributable to a specified number of the largest firms. A high concentration ratio indicates that few firms are operating in an industry. Thus, a high ratio indicates monopoly power. (B) is incorrect. A highly competitive industry would have a low concentration ratio. (C) is incorrect. The concentration ratio has no relationship to the law of demand. (D) is incorrect. A high concentration ratio is more indicative of a monopoly than of monopolistic competition, which is characterized by the existence of many firms.
CHAPTER 10 PRICING POLICIES AND STRATEGIES LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. Define the cost-based price. 2. Illustrate and explain markup pricing. 3. Formulate and discuss optimal pricing. 4. Explain the concept of price discrimination. 5. Articulate and give examples of two-part pricing. 6. Define and illustrate block pricing. 7. Demonstrate and explain commodity bundling. 8. Define and discuss peak load pricing. 9. Understand and explain skimming pricing. 10. Define and demonstrate penetrating pricing. In this chapter, we examine a number of pricing methods and polices used in practice. We begin with the most popular pricing approach, cost-plus pricing. We also take a look at how to utilize economic theory to reach a profit-maximizing pricing decision. The marginal cost concept and demand elasticity play key roles in achieving profit maximization. Further, we examine various pricing strategies for firms that may yield even greater profits, such as price discrimination, two-part pricing, block pricing, and peak-load pricing,. The price discrimination method is also analyzed as a way for firms with market power to deal with pricing problems posed by multiple products. Two common pricing polices--skimming and penetrating--are also presented. COST-BASED PRICING Cost-based pricing is a widely used pricing technique that involves: (a) Define an appropriate cost base, typically average unit cost of producing and marketing a product or service and (b) Add a percentage markup. The markup on cost formula is Price - Cost
Markup on cost = --------------------
Cost EXAMPLE 1 A firm's unit cost is $3.00 and the unit price is $3.90, the 30% markup is calculated as ($3.90 - $3.00)/$3.00 = 30% Solving the markup on cost formula for price provides the expression that determines price in a cost-plus pricing system, i.e., Price = Cost (1 + Markup on Cost) = $3.00(1 + .3) = $3.90 Despite its popularity, a cost-plus pricing system is subject to some criticisms: Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 207
(a) it fails to take into account demand as measured in terms of buyers' desires and purchasing power and (b) it does not reflect competition in terms of rivals' reactions and the possible entry of new firms.
OPTIMAL PRICING POLICY AND PRICE ELASTICITY
We note, without a mathematical derivation, the relationship between the point price elasticity of demand, marginal revenue, and price:
This follows directly from the mathematical definition of marginal revenue (MR). This formula is useful in setting a firms pricing policy. From the profit-maximizing condition MR = MC, we can derive the formula for determining the profit-maximizing price level, which is shown below.
MC = MR 1 1 + ---ep
MC = P
Solving for the optimal or profit-maximizing P*, yields
P* =
MC ---------------1 1 + ---ep
EXAMPLE 2 ABC summer catalog of outdoor sporting shoes features $5 off the regular $40 price on a popular Z model. Customer response was more than enthusiastic, with sales rising from 10,000 to 20,000 units. The company buys shoes from a local wholesale distributor for $28, and incurs $4 in marginal marketing costs per unit. Then the price elasticity of demand is: % change in Q ----------------= % change in p (20,000 - 10,000)/10,000 --------------------------(35 - 40)/40 1 --.125
ep =
= -8
The profit-maximizing price is then: P = $32/(1 + 1/-8) = $36.6

MARKUP PRICING AND PROFIT MAXIMIZATION
Most firms differentiate markups for different products on the basis of price elasticities and competitive pressure. This section tries to identify the precise relation between the price elasticity and the optimal markups on cost and price. First, recall that
1 ------------------1 1 + ---ep
P* = MC
The formula implies that the profit-maximizing price is obtained by multiplying MC by

1 -------------1 1 + ---ep
Recall that price = cost (1 + markup on cost). Substituting this into the left-hand side of the formula, we obtain:
MC (1 + markup on cost) = MC
1 -------------1 1 + ---ep
Simplifying the expression and solving for markup on cost yields:

1 Markup on cost = -------------- - 1 = -1/(ep+ 1) 1 1 + ---ep
The optimal markup on cost = OMC* = -1/(ep+ 1). EXAMPLE 3 In Example 2, we note eP = -8. The optimal markup on cost is: OMC* = -1/(ep+ 1) = -1/(-8 + 1) = -1/-7 = 0.1429 or 14.29% Note that the more elastic the demand for a product (the more price sensitive it is), the smaller optimal margin. Products with relatively price-insensitive demand will be optimally priced with higher markups. STRATEGIES THAT YIELD EVEN GREATER PROFITS The analysis in the previous section demonstrated how a manager can implement the familiar MR = MC rule for setting the profit maximizing price. Given estimates of demand and cost functions, such a price can be computed directly. Alternatively, given publicly available estimates of demand elasticities, a manager can implement the rule by using the appropriate markup formula. In some markets, managers can enhance profits above those they would earn by simply charging a single per unit price to all consumers. Several pricing strategies can be used to yield profits above those earned by simply charging a single price where MR = MC. Pricing strategies are price discrimination, two-part pricing, block pricing, and commodity bundling which are strategies appropriate for firms with various cost structures and degrees of market interdependence. Thus, these strategies can enhance profits of firms in industries with monopolistic, monopolistically competitive, or oligopolistic structures.
PRICE DISCRIMINATION Price discrimination is defined as the act of selling the same good or service, produced under a single control (i.e., by a monopolist), at different prices to different buyers. Price discrimination exists when a multi-product firm prices closely-related products in such a manner that the differences in their prices are not proportional to the differences in their marginal costs of production and distribution. Price discrimination can be encountered in the: a) First degree: Separate prices for each consumer. This creates maximum profits for sellers. b) Second degree: Block-rates or quantity discounts based on usage. c) Third degree: Different prices for each customer class defined on the basis of age, sex, income, etc. This is the most common type of price discrimination. Examples are: (1) Stores offer "student discounts," (2) Hotels and restaurants offer senior citizen discounts, and (3) Telephone companies charge lower rates on weekends than during the day, implying that businesses may pay a higher price for telephone services than households. Note: (1) If the following conditions are satisfied, a firm can enhance profits by engaging in price discrimination: (a) There is no resale market for the product. (b) The firm has a good idea of identifying who belongs to which consumer type. (c) Consumers are divided into two or more types, with one type having a more elastic demand than the others. (2) A firm that can segment its market will maximize profits by operating in such a way that MR = MC in each market segment. EXAMPLE 4 Suppose the demand and total cost (TC) functions facing a monopolist are given by: P1 = 10 Q1 (or Q1 = 10 P1) P2 = 6 Q2 (or Q2 = 6 P2) TC = 4 + (Q1 + Q2) Total combined profit in the two markets equals:
= TR TC = P1Q1 + P2Q2 [4 + (Q1 + Q2)] = (10 Q1)Q1 + (6 Q2)Q2 - [4 + (Q1 + Q2)] = -4 + 9Q1 Q21 + 5Q2 Q22
In order to maximize profits, we find partial derivatives of profit with respect to Q1 Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 211
and Q2, set them equal to zero, and solve for them.
/Q1 = 9 2Q1 = 0; Q1 = 4.5 /Q2 = 5 2Q2 = 0; Q2 = 2.5
Substituting Q1 and Q2 into the demand and profit functions yields: P1 = $5.5, P2 = $3.5, and = $22.5 Note: The general profit maximizing rule for the firm seeking price discriminations is that the firm should produce and sell in each market until marginal revenue in each market is equal to the firms marginal cost, i.e., MR1 = MR2= MC. Otherwise, consumers in the higher price market will be able to buy the product in the lower priced market. PREDATORY PRICING Predatory pricing is intentionally pricing below cost to eliminate competition and reduce supply. Federal statutes and many state laws prohibit the practice. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that pricing is predatory when two conditions are met: (1) the sellers price is below an appropriate measure of its costs, and (2) it has a reasonable prospect of recovering the resulting loss through higher prices or greater market share. TWO PART PRICING Companies with market power can magnify profits using two part pricing. With two part pricing, a firm charges a fixed fee for the right to buy its products or services, plus a per unit charge for each unit purchased. This pricing strategy is commonly used by such establishments as athletic clubs, golf courses and health clubs. They typically charge a fixed "initiation fee" plus a charge (either per month or per visit) to use the facilities. Buying clubs are another good example. By paying a membership fee in those clubs, members get to buy products at 'wholesale cost." BLOCK PRICING Block pricing is another way a firm with market power can increase profits. An example is the purchase of toilet paper in packages of three rolls or cans of soft drink in a six pack. By packaging units of a product and selling them as one package, the firm earns more than by posting a simple per unit price. Block pricing enhance profits by forcing consumers to make all-or-none decisions to purchase units of a good. COMMODITY BUNDLING Commodity bundling reflects the practice of bundling two or more different products together and selling them at a single "bundle price." For example, travel agencies often sell "package deals" that include airfare, hotel, and meals at a bundled price instead of pricing each component of a vacation separately. PC makers bundle computers, monitors, and software and sell them at a bundled price. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 212
Many car dealers bundle options such as air conditioning, power steering, and automatic transmission and sell them at a special package price." STRATEGIES FOR SPECIAL COST AND DEMAND STRUCTURES There are pricing strategies available to firms with special cost and demand structures to maximize profits. They include peak load pricing and cross subsidization. PEAK LOAD PRICING When demand is higher at some times of the day than at other times, a firm may enhance profits by peak load pricing. This practice involves charging a higher price during peak times than is charged during off peak times. Many markets have periods in which demand is high and periods in which demand is low. Toll roads, utility companies, and airlines all tend to have this feature. When the demand during peak times is so high that the capacity of the firm cannot serve all customers at the same price, the firm can use peak load pricing to enhance its profits. Note: PEAK LOAD PRICING IS SIMILAR TO PRICE DISCRIMINATION BUT, DUE TO CAPACITY LIMITATIONS, THE FIRM IS UNABLE TO FULLY EQUATE THE MARGINAL REVENUES OF THOSE WHO PURCHASE AT DIFFERENT TIMES. CROSS SUBSIDIZATION Whenever the demand for two products made by a company is interrelated through costs or demand, the firm may increase profits by cross subsidization. It involves selling one product at or below cost and the other product above cost. This way, the company's profits made with one product are used to subsidize sales of another product. Consider a firm that sells two different types of computer software. One type is a Windows system, and the other is an application that runs on the window (say, a spreadsheet). Clearly there are economies of scope and cost complementarities in making the two products jointly; cost savings arise due to designing the software within the firm. Furthermore, the demand for the two products is likely to be interdependent; the spreadsheet is valuable to a consumer only to the extent that it runs on a version of the window. In such instances, a firm may find it profitable to sell one of the products at (or below) cost and charge a relatively higher price for the other product. For instance, the firm may price the Windows system at (or below) cost to induce numerous consumers to use it to run their computers. Once consumers commit to the companys version of Windows, the firm can charge a higher price for its applications software.
Note: THE ADVANTAGES OF CROSS SUBSIDIZATION ARE: IT ALLOWS THE COMPANY TO SELL MULTIPLE PRODUCTS, WHICH LEADS TO COST SAVINGS IN THE PRESENCE OF ECONOMIES OF SCOPE. IF THE TWO PRODUCTS HAVE DEMANDS THAT ARE INTERDEPENDENT, THE FIRM CAN INDUCE CONSUMERS TO BUY MORE OF EACH PRODUCT THAN THEY WOULD OTHERWISE.
PRICING POLICIES Many firms use two pricing tactics, depending upon the type of goal they wish to accomplish with pricing. They are skimming and penetrating pricing policies. MARKET SKIMMING PRICING Market-skimming pricing is the method of pricing that involves setting a high initial price for a new product, with a progressively lowering of the price as time passes and as the market broaden and matures. The objective of this pricing method is to maximize short-term profits. This strategy is used when a new product is introduced at the highest price possible given the benefits of the product. For market skimming to work, the product must appear to be worth its price, the costs of producing a small volume cannot be so high that they eliminate the advantage of charging more, and competitors cannot enter the market and undercut the price.
PENETRATING PRICING Penetrating pricing is a pricing policy that involves setting low initial prices in order to gain quick acceptance in a broad portion of the market. It calls for the sacrifice of some short-term profits in order to gain a better long-term market share. The lower price is then often raised as the product moves into its growth stage. One objective is to obtain a committed customer. This policy also is used by a firm when consumer demand is price-elastic.
QUESTIONS 1. What criticisms is cost-plus pricing subject to? 2. Explain the difference between markup on cost and markup on price. 3. What is the role of sunk costs in short-run managerial decision making? 4. State three important conditions for price discrimination to work well. 5. A local family doctor read an article published by AMA estimating that elasticity of demand for the representative family practice is -2. How much should the family doctor markup her price over marginal cost? 6. Explain why theaters sometimes give senior citizen discounts. 7. Many restaurants offer free appetizers with a two-drink minimum during a limited number of hours. Is this profit-maximizing behavior? 8. Give some examples of firms using peak-load pricing. Can they enhance their profits using this pricing practice? Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 214
9. Give some examples of firms using two-part pricing. PROBLEMS 1. A monopolist is profit maximizing when the price elasticity of demand is -2 and price is $5. What is the monopolist's marginal cost? 2. As an owner of a local market, you sell a gallon of milk for $2. If your elasticity of demand for milk sold at your store is -2.5, what are your profit-maximizing markup and price? 3. Carlos Service Stations is contemplating selling mugs imprinted with its logo. Preliminary estimates suggest the following demand function: Q = 10,000 2,000P (a) How many mugs could Carlos sell at $1.50 each; at $2.00 each? (b) What price must Carlos charge to sell 8,000 mugs? (c) At what price would quantity be zero? (d) How many mugs should Carlos have ready if it decides to give the mugs away for promotional purposes? (e) Calculate the point elasticity of demand at a price of $1.50. (f) At what price is the elasticity of demand equal to -1 (i.e., unitary)? 4. Suppose the demand function for Stacy Flowers is given by P(Q) = 10 - 2Q and the cost function is TC(Q) = 2Q. What is the profit-maximizing level of output and price for this firm?
5. Yumi summer catalog of outdoor sporting shoes features $3 off the regular $36 price on a popular Z model. Customer response was more than enthusiastic, with sales rising from 15,000 to 25,000 units. The companys buys shoes from a local wholesale distributor for $28, and incurs $3.5 in marginal marketing costs per unit. (a) Determine the point price elasticity of demand. (b) Is the regular $36 price optimal in the sense of maximizing Yumi's profits on the shoes? ANSWERS 1. A cost-plus pricing system suffers from some criticisms: (a) it fails to take into account demand as measured in terms of buyers' desires and purchasing power and (b) it does not reflect competition in terms of rivals' reactions and the possible entry of new firms. 2. Markup on cost is the profit margin for a product expressed as a percentage of unit cost, while markup on price is the profit margin expressed as a percentage of price rather than unit cost. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 215
3. Sunk costs are unaffected by decisions made now or in the future and are therefore irrelevant in the short-run decision making. 4. If the following conditions are satisfied, a firm can enhance profits by engaging in price discrimination: (a) There is no resale market for the product, (b) The firm has a good idea of identifying who belongs to which consumer type, and (c) Consumers are divided into two or more types, with one type having a more elastic demand than the others. 5.
MC -------------------- = MC /[1 + 1/-2)] = 2MC 1 1 + ---ep
P* =
The doctor should charge her price twice over the marginal cost. 6. Since seniors have a more elastic demand than non-senior citizens, a lower price is charged to them to maximize the profits. 7. It may be an example of cross-subsidization. The appetizers are typically salty, leading customers to buy more drinks that would otherwise be the case. 8. Toll roads, utility companies, and airlines are good examples. When the demand during peak times is so high that the capacity of the firm cannot serve all customers at the same price, the firm can use peak load pricing to enhance its profits. 9. This pricing strategy is commonly used by such establishments as athletic clubs, golf courses and health clubs.
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS
1 MC = P 1 + ---ep
= $5[ 1 + 1/-2] = $2.5
1.
P* =
MC ----------------- = $2 /[1 + 1/-2.5)] = $3.33 1 1 + ---ep
2. 3. (a) At $1.50, Q = 10,000 - 2,000(1.5) = 7,000 At $2.00, Q = 10,000 - 2,000(2) = 6,000 (b) Set Q = 8,000 and solve for P 8,000 = 10,000 - 2,000P; P = $1.00 (c) Set Q = 0 and solve for P 0 = 10,000 - 2,000P; P = $5.00 (d) Set P = 0 and solve for Q Q = 10,000 - 2,000(0); Q = 10,000 (e) We know from (a) that at $1.50, Q = 10,000 - 2,000(1.5) = 7,000 % change in Q --------------% change in P dQ/ Q -----dP/P dQ = --dP x p --Q = (-2000) 1.50 ------7,000 = -.43
ep =
(f) Demand is unit elastic where MR = 0. To find MR, write the demand curve in inverse form. Q = 10,000 - 2,000P or P = 5 - .0005Q TR = PQ = (5 - .0005Q)Q = 5Q - .0005Q2 Set MR = 0 and solve for Q: MR = dTR/dQ = 5 - .001Q = 0; Q = 5,000 Substitute to solve for P: Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 217
P = 5 - .0005Q = 5 - .0005(5,000) = $2.50 The demand elasticity is unitary at a price of $2.50. 4. TR = PQ = (10 - 2Q)Q = 10Q - 2Q2 MR = 10 - 4Q. Since TC(Q) = 2Q. MC = 2. Setting MR = MC yields, 10 -4Q = 2. So Q* = 2. Substituting this into the demand function yields the profit-maximizing price: P(Q) = 10 - 2Q = 10 - 2(2) = $6. 5. (a) The price elasticity of demand is: % change in Q ep = --------------= % change in p
(25,000 15,000)/15,000 --------------------------(33 - 36)/36
= -8
(b) The profit-maximizing price is: P = $31.5(1 + 1/-8) = $36 The answer is yes; the regular $36 is the profit-maximizing price.
CHAPTER 10 QUIZ 1. Market-skimming pricing strategies could be appropriate when A. No buyers want the product at a high price. B. The costs of producing a small volume are low. C. Competitors can easily enter the market. D. The product is of poor quality. 2. If a U.S. manufactures price in the U.S. market is below an appropriate measure of costs and the seller has a reasonable prospect of recovering the resulting loss in the future through higher prices or a greater market share, the seller has engaged in A. Collusive pricing. B. Predatory pricing. C. Dumping. D. Price discrimination.
CHAPTER 10 ANSWER KEY 1. (B) is correct. Market-skimming pricing is used when a new product is introduced at the highest price possible given the benefits of the product. For market skimming to work, the product must appear to be worth its price; the costs of producing a small volume cannot be so high that they eliminate the advantage of charging more, and competitors cannot either the market and undercut the price. (A) is incorrect. If no buyers want the product at a high price, this marketing strategy is inappropriate. (C) is incorrect. If competitors can easily enter the market, they can undercut the price. (D) is incorrect. The product quality and image must support a high price. 2. (B) is correct. Predatory pricing is intentionally pricing below cost to eliminate competition and reduce supply. Federal statutes and many state laws prohibit the practice. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that pricing is predatory when two conditions are met: (1) the sellers price is below an appropriate measure of its costs, and (2) it has a reasonable prospect of recovering the resulting loss through higher prices or greater market share. (A) is incorrect. Collusive pricing involves a conspiracy to set higher prices. (C) is incorrect. Dumping is defined under U.S. law as sale by a non-U.S. company in the U.S. market of a product below its market value in the country where it was produced. Such sale is illegal if it threatens material injury to a U.S. industry. (D) is incorrect. Price discrimination entails charging different prices to different customers for essentially the same product if the effect is to lessen competition substantially; to tend to create a monopoly; or to injure, destroy, or prevent competition.
CHAPTER 11 LONG-TERM INVESTMENT DECISIONS (CAPITAL BUDGETING ) LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Construct a guide for capital budgeting Compute and explain the time value of money. Calculate and demonstrate after-tax cash inflows. Compute the net present value (NPV). Explain how to compute the internal rate of return (IRR). Ascertain and discuss the cost of capital. Demonstrate and give examples of the profitability index. Discuss how capital rationing works.
Capital budgeting is the process of planning for and evaluating long-term capital expenditure decisions. There are many investment decisions that the firm may have to make in order to grow. Examples of capital budgeting applications are product line selection, keep or sell a business segment, lease or buy, and which asset to invest in. WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF INVESTMENT PROJECTS? There are typically two types of long-term investment decisions: 1. Expansion decisions in terms of obtaining new facilities or expanding existing ones: Examples include: (a) Investments in property, plant, and equipment as well as other types of assets. (b) Resource commitments in the form of new product development, market research, introduction of a computer network, refunding of long-term debt, and so on. (c) Mergers and acquisitions in the form of buying another company to add a new product or service line. 2. Replacement decisions replacing obsolete assets with new ones. Examples include replacing an old machine with a high-tech machine. WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF INVESTMENT PROJECTS? Long-term investments have three important features: 1. They typically involve a large amount of initial cash outlays which tend to have a long-term impact on the firm's future profitability. Therefore, this initial cash outlay needs to be justified on a cost-benefit basis. 2. There are expected recurring cash inflows (for example, increased revenues, savings in cash operating expenses, etc.) over the life of the investment project. This frequently requires considering the time value of money. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 221
3. Corporate income taxes could make a difference in the accept or reject decision. Therefore, income tax factors must be taken into account in every capital budgeting decision. UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF TIME VALUE OF MONEY A dollar now is worth more than a dollar to be received later. This statement sums up an important principle: money has a time value. The reason is that you could invest the dollar now and have more than a dollar at the specified later date. Time value of money is an important consideration in making business decisions. For example, compound interest computations are required to calculate future sums of money emanating from an investment. Discounting (present value) is the opposite of compounding. It is used to appraise the future cash flow of capital budgeting proposals. Many applications of time value of money exist in accounting, economics, finance, and other business areas. How Do You Calculate Future Values - How Money Grows? A dollar in hand today has more of a worth than a dollar to be received in the future due to the interest it could generate from putting the funds in an investment. Compounding interest means that interest earns interest. Let us define: Fn = future value: the amount of money at the end of year n P = principal i = annual interest rate n = number of years Then, F1 F2 = the amount of money at the end of year 1 = principal and interest = P + iP = P(1+i) = the amount of money at the end of year 2 = F1(1+i) = P(1+i)(1+i) = P(1+i)2
The future value of an investment compounded annually at rate i for n years is Fn = P(1+i)n = P . T1(i,n) Where T1(i,n) is the compound amount of $1 and can be found in Table 1 in the Appendix. Note: (1+i)n = T1(i,n) is the future value interest factor, FVIF. EXAMPLE 1 You place $100,000 in a bank account earning 10 percent interest compounded annually. How much money will be accumulated after 6 years? Note that Fn = P(1+i)n F6 = $100,000 (1 + 0.10)6 = $100,000 T1(10%,6 years) From Table 1, the T1 for 6 years at 10 percent is 1.772. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 222
Therefore,
F6 = $100,000 (1.772) = $177,720.
Future Value of an Annuity An annuity is defined as a series of payments (or receipts) of a fixed amount for a stated number of periods. We assume period-end payments. The future value of an annuity is a compound annuity of depositing or investing an equal amount of money at year-end for a specified time periods. Let Sn A = the future value on an n-year annuity = the amount of an annuity
Then we can write Sn = A(1+i)n-1 + A(1+i)n-2 + ... + A(1+i)0 = A[(1+i)n-1+(1+i)n-2+ ... + (1+i)0] n-1 (1 +i)n - 1 = A . (1+i)t = A = A . T2(i,n ) t=0 i where T2(i,n) represents the future value of an annuity of $1 for n years compounded at i percent and can be found in Table 2 in the Appendix. Note: T2(i,n) is the future value interest factor for an annuity, FVIFA. EXAMPLE 2 You want to know how much you will have in a bank account after 10 years by depositing $20,000 at the end of each year for the next 10 years. The annual interest rate is 12 percent. The T2(12%,10 years) is given in Table 2 as 7.549. Therefore, S10 = $20,000 T2(12%,10) = $20,000 (7.549) = $350,980 What Is Present Value - How Much Money Is Worth Now? Present value is the value today of future cash flows. The computation of present values (discounting) is the opposite of determining the compounded future value. The interest rate i is referred to as the discount rate. The discount rate we use is more commonly called the cost of capital, which is the minimum rate of return required by the investor. Recall that Therefore, Fn = P(1+i)n
Fn P= (1 + i)
n
1 = Fn (1 + i)
n
= Fn . T3(i,n)
Where T3(i,n) represents the present value of $1 and is given in Table 3 in the Appendix. Note: T3(i,n) is the present value interest factor, PVIF. EXAMPLE 3 You have the option of receiving $60,000 6 years from now. If you earn 15 percent on your money, how much should you pay for this investment? To answer this query, you need to compute the present value of $60,000 to be received 6 years from now at a 15 percent rate of discount. F6 is $60,000, i is 15 percent, and n is 6 years. T3(15%,6) from Table 3 is 0.432.
1 P = $60,000 (1 + 0.15)
6
= $60,000 T3(15%,6) = $60,000(0.432) = $25,920
This means that you can earn 15 percent on your money, and you would be indifferent to receiving $25,920 now or $60,000 6 years from today because the amounts are time equivalent. Stated another way, you could invest $25,920 today at 15 percent and have $60,000 in 6 years. Present Value of an Annuity Interest received from notes, bonds, pension funds, and insurance contracts involve annuities. To compare these financial instruments, the present value of each must be determined. The present value of an annuity (Pn) is solved as follows:
1 Pn = A + A. (1 + i)
1
1 + (1 + i)
2
1 ... + A. (1 + i)
n
1 =A (1 + i)
1
1 + (1 + i)
2
1 + ... + (1 + i)
n
1 (1+i)
t
1 = A. i 1-
1 = A. T4(i,n) (1 + i)
= A.
t=1
Where A = the amount of an annuity and T4(i,n) represents the present value of an annuity of $1 discounted at i percent for n years and is found in Table 4 in the Appendix. Note: T4(i,n) is the present value interest factor for an annuity, PVIFA. EXAMPLE 4 Assume an annuity of $10,000 for 3 years at 10% discount. Then the present value is Pn = A . T4(i,n) P3 = $10,000 T4(10%, 3 years) = $10,000 (2.487) = $24,870 NOTE: There are many financial calculators that contain pre-programmed formulas to perform many present value and future value applications. Furthermore, spreadsheet software such as Microsofts Excel, Quattro, and Lotus 1-2-3 have built-in financial functions to perform many such applications. A BASIC FRAMEWORK FOR CAPITAL BUDGETING The economic theory of the firm suggests that to maximize its profit, a firm should operate at the point where the marginal cost of an additional unit of output just equals the marginal revenue derived from that output. This rule may be equally applicable to the capital budgeting process. The marginal cost may be thought as the firms cost of capital--that is, the cost of successive increments of capital acquired by the firm, while the marginal revenue may be regarded as the rates of return earned on succeeding investments. Figure 1 illustrates this concept. The projects are indicated by lettered bars on the graph. For example, Project A requires an outlay of $2 million and is expected to generate a 24 percent return. Project B will cost $1 million ($3 million minus $2 million on the horizontal axis) and generate a 22 percent return, and so on. The marginal cost of capital (MCC) line represents the cost of each additional dollar raised in the capital markets. The MCC is a weighted average of the costs of the different financing sources. If the cost of any source of financing increases, the MCC curve will rise. The MCC curve is upward sloping because the lowest cost financing sources are assumed to be used first. Thus, as cumulative debt increases, the cost of debt also increases. Graphically, the projects are arranged in descending order by their rates of return, indicating that no firm has an unlimited number of investment opportunities which all generate lofty returns. As new products are made, new markets entered, and cost-saving high tech adopted, the number of highly profitable projects tends to diminish. Using this basic framework, the firm should embark on A,B,C,D, and E, since their returns exceed the firms MCC. The remainder of this chapter takes up some practical, analytical tools that are helpful in making capital budgeting decisions.
FIGURE 1 SIMPLIFIED CAPITAL BUDGETING PROCESS
HOW DO YOU MEASURE INVESTMENT WORTH? Several popular methods of evaluating investment projects are as follows: 1. Net present value (NPV) 2. Internal rate of return (IRR) 3. Profitability index (Benefit/cost ratio) The NPV method and the IRR method are called discounted cash flow (DCF) methods. Each of these methods is discussed below. 1. Net Present Value Net present value (NPV) equals the present value (PV) of cash inflows from a proposal less the initial investment (I): NPV = PV - I The present value of future cash flows is determined using the cost of capital (or minimum required rate of return) as the discount rate. When cash inflows are equal, the present value would be PV = A . T4 (i, n) Where A is the amount of the annuity. Decision rule: If NPV is positive, accept the project. Otherwise reject it. EXAMPLE 5 Consider the following investment: Initial investment Estimated life Annual cash inflows after taxes Cost of capital (minimum required rate of return) $37,910 5 years $10,000 8%
Present value of the cash inflows is PV = A.T4(i,n) = $10,000. T4(8%,5 years) = $10,000 (3.993) Initial investment (I) Net present value (NPV = PV - I)
$39,930 37,910 $ 2,020
Since the NPV of the investment is positive, the investment should be accepted. The advantages of the NPV method are that it obviously recognizes the time value of money and it is easy to compute whether the cash flows form an annuity or vary from period to period. NOTE: If cash inflows are different from year to year, you should compute the present value separately year by year using Table 3.
2. Internal Rate of Return Internal rate of return (IRR), a projects yield or real return is defined as the rate of interest that equates I with the PV of future cash inflows. In other words, at IRR I = PV or NPV = 0 Decision rule: Accept the project if the IRR exceeds the cost of capital. Otherwise, reject it. EXAMPLE 6 Assume the same data given in Example 5, and set the following equality (I = PV): $37,910 = $10,000 . T4(i,5 years) $37,910 T4(i,5 years) = --------$10,000 = 3.791
Which is right on 10% in the 5-year line of Table 4. Since the IRR of the investment is greater than the cost of capital (8 percent), accept the project. The advantage of using the IRR method is that it does consider the time value of money and, therefore, it gives a more exact and realistic yield on the project. The shortcomings of this method are that (1) it is time-consuming to compute, Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 227
(2) it fails to recognize the varying sizes of investment in competing projects, and (3) it is not unusual for the project with unconventional patterns of cash flows (i.e., negative cash flows in some periods) to have multiple IRRs. 3. Profitability Index The profitability index, also called benefit/cost ratio, is the ratio of the total PV of future cash inflows to the initial investment, that is, PV/I. This index is used as a means of ranking projects in descending order of attractiveness. Decision rule: If the profitability index is greater than 1, then accept the project. EXAMPLE 7 Using the data in Example 5, the profitability index is PV $39,930 -------= ------------= 1.05 I $37,910 Since this project generates $1.05 for each dollar invested (i.e., its profitability index is greater than 1), accept the project. The profitability index has the advantage of putting all projects on the same relative basis regardless of size. CAPITAL RATIONING (PROJECT RANKING WITH A LIMITED BUDGET) Many companies set a ceiling on the capital spending budget. Capital rationing deals with choosing the combination of acceptable projects that generate the highest overall NPV. The profitability index is used to rank projects when funds are limited. EXAMPLE 8 The Westmont Company has a fixed budget of $250,000. It wants to select a mix of acceptable projects from the following: Projects H I J K L M I($) 70,000 100,000 115,000 80,000 60,000 82,000 PV($) 112,000 145,000 126,500 100,000 57,000 95,000 NPV($) 42,000 45,000 11,500 20,000 -3,000 13,000 Profitability Index 1.6 1.45 1.10 1.25 0.95 1.16 Ranking 1 2 5 3 6 4
The ranking resulting from the profitability index shows that the company should select projects H, I, and K. H I K Therefore, NPV = $357,000 - $250,000 = $107,000 HOW DO INCOME TAXES AFFECT INVESTMENT DECISIONS? Income taxes have to be considered in capital budgeting decisions. The project that looks good on a before-tax basis may have to be rejected on an after-tax basis and vice versa. Income taxes usually impact both the amount and the timing of cash flows. Because net income, not cash inflows, is subject to tax, after-tax cash inflows are different from after-tax net income. To calculate after-tax cash flows, depreciation, which is not a cash outlay, must be added to profits after taxes. After-tax cash inflows = after-tax net income + depreciation EXAMPLE 9 The Navistar Company estimates that it can generate sales of $67,000 and incur annual cost of operations of $52,000 for the next ten years if it buys a special-purpose machine at a cost of $100,000. No residual value is expected. Depreciation is by straight-line. Assume that the income tax rate is 30%, and the after-tax cost of capital (minimum required rate of return) is 10%. After-tax cash inflows can be calculated as follows: Note that depreciation by straight-line is $100,000/10 = $10,000 per year. Thus, After-tax cash inflows = after-tax net income + depreciation = ($67,000 - $52,000)(1 - .3) + $10,000 = $15,000 (.7) + $10,000 = $10,500 + $10,000 = 20,500 To see if this machine should be purchased, the net present value can be calculated. PV = $20,500 T4(10%, 10 years) = $20,500 (6.145)=$125,972.50 Thus, NPV = PV - I = $125,972.50 - $100,000 = $25,972.50 Since NPV is positive, the machine should be bought. Note: Use of accelerated methods such as the sum-of-years-digits, double declining, and Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery (MACRS) methods would increase after-tax Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 229 I $70,000 100,000 80,000 $250,000 PV $112,000 145,000 100,000 $357,000
cash flows. MACRS is an accelerated method of depreciation under which depreciation expense will be greater during the early years of an assets life. Thus, the outflows for income taxes will be less in the early years, but greater in the later years, and the NPV (present value of net cash inflows-investment) will be increased. The profitability index (present value of net cash inflows/the investment) must increase if the NPV increases. EXAMPLE 10 The treasurer of a small appliance maker estimates the cash inflows, outflows, and net cash flows before taxes shown in columns 1, 2, and 3 of the table below, if it buys a high tech machine at a cost of $1,000,000. No residual value is expected. Life is 5 years. Depreciation is by straight-line. Assume that the income tax rate is 35%, and the after-tax cost of capital (minimum required rate of return) is 10%. The process of arriving at net cash flow after taxes is shown in columns 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Net Cash Flow
Cash Inflow Yea (1) r 1 $ 1,000,000 2 $ 900,000 3 $ 925,000 4 $ 930,000 5 $ 825,000
Cash Ouflow (2) $ 625,000 $ 610,000 $ 635,000 $ 605,000 $ 557,000
Net Income Before Taxes After Taxes (6) = .35 Taxes x (3)=(1)-(2) 1,000,000 (5)=(3)-(4 (5) (7)=(5)-(6 ) ) $ $ $ $ $ 375,000 200,000 175,000 61,250 113,750 $ $ $ $ $ 290,000 200,000 90,000 31,500 58,500 $ $ $ $ $ 290,000 200,000 90,000 31,500 58,500 $ $ $ $ $ 325,000 200,000 125,000 43,750 81,250 $ $ $ $ $ 268,000 200,000 68,000 23,800 44,200
Depreciati on (noncash Net Income Expense) Before (4)=.2 x Taxes
Income
Net Cash Flow After Taxes (8)=(3)-( 6) or (7)+(4) $ 313,750 $ 258,500 $ 258,500 $ 281,250 $ 244,200
EXAMPLE 11 The NPV of the machine can be calculated using Table 3, as shown below. Net Cash Flow After T3 at 10% Present Yea Taxes Table value Value r 0 $ $ $ (1,000,000) 1.000 (1,000,000) 1 $ $ $ 313,750 0.909 285,199 2 $ $ $ 258,500 0.826 213,521 3 $ $ $ 258,500 0.751 194,134 4 $ $ $ 281,250 0.683 192,094 5 $ $ $ 244,200 0.621 151,648 NPV = $ 36,596 THE POSTAUDIT The last step in capital budgeting is a post-audit review that should be performed by an individual independent of the decision. Actual operating costs and cash receipts from sales should be determined and compared with the costs and revenues estimated when the project was originally reviewed and accepted. The post-audit review performs functions including: 1. Informs management about the accuracy of projections of cash flows. 2. May identify additional factors that might have been forgotten in a particular project. 3. Sees how effectively and efficiently the process is working. COST OF CAPITAL AND THE DISCOUNT RATE The cost of capital is defined as the return rate required to maintain the companys market value (or market price of stock). Project managers must know the cost of capital (minimum required rate of return) It was used either as a discount rate under the NPV method or as a hurdle rate under the IRR method earlier in the chapter. The cost of capital is a weighted average cost of a companys financing instruments including bonds, preferred stock, common stock, and retained earnings.
Cost of Debt The cost of debt is stated on an after-tax basis, since the interest on the debt is tax deductible. However, the cost of preferred stock is the stated annual dividend rate. This rate is not adjusted for income taxes because the preferred dividend, unlike debt interest, is not a deductible expense in computing corporate income taxes. EXAMPLE 12 Assume that the Hume Company issues a $1,000, 7 percent, 10-year bond whose net proceeds are $960. The tax rate is 40 percent. Then, the after-tax cost of debt is: 7.00% (1-0.4) = 4.2% EXAMPLE 13 The Hume Company has preferred stock that pays a $12 dividend per share and has a market price per share of $100. Then the cost of preferred stock is: Dividend per share ------------------Price per share Cost of Common Stock The cost of common stock is the rate of return investors demand on a companys common stock. One way to measure the cost of common stock is to use the Gordon's growth model. The model is Po = where D1 ------r-g $12 = ---$100 = 12%
Po = value (or market price) of common stock D1 = dividend to be received in 1 year r = investor's required rate of return g = rate of growth (assumed to be constant over time)
Solving the model for r results in the formula for the cost of common stock: r= D1 ------Po +g
EXAMPLE 14 The market price of the Hume Company's stock is $50. The current year dividend will be $6 per share. The anticipated annual growth rate in dividends is 8 percent. The cost of common stock equals: D1 ---Po Cost of Retained Earnings The cost of retained earnings is closely tied to the cost of common stock, because the cost of equity obtained by retained earnings is the same as the rate of return investors demand on the companys common stock. Computing the Overall Cost of Capital The companys overall cost of capital is the weighted average of the individual financing costs. The weights are the proportion of each type of financing to the total financing. (percentage of the total capital structure by each source of financing x cost of capital for each source) The computation of overall cost of capital is illustrated in the following example. EXAMPLE 15 Assume that the capital structure at the latest statement date is indicative of the proportions of financing that the company intends to use over time: Mortgage bonds ($1,000 par) Preferred stock ($100 par) Common stock ($40 par) Retained earnings Total $20,000,00 0 5,000,000 20,000,000 5,000,000 $50,000,00 0 Cost 4.20% (from Example 12) 12.00 (from Example 13) 20.00 (from Example 14) 20.00 +g= $6 ---$50 + 8% = 20%
These proportions would be applied to the assumed individual explicit after-tax costs below: Source Debt Preferred stock Common stock Retained earnings Weights 40% 10 40 10 100% (a) $20,000,000/$50,000,000 = .40 = 40% (b) 4.20% x 40% = 1.68% Overall cost of capital is 12.88% By computing a company's cost of capital, we can determine its minimum rate of return, which is used as the discount rate in present value calculations. A company's cost of capital is also an indicator of risk. For example, if your company's cost of financing increases, it is being viewed as more risky by investors and creditors, who are demanding higher return on their investments in the form of higher dividend and interest rates. QUESTIONS 1. Define the term capital budgeting. 2. What is the profitability index, and of what value is it? 3. How would you define the internal rate of return of a capital project? 4. What is the definition of the net present value (NPV) of a project? What is the decision rule under the NPV method? 5. How would you define the cost of capital? 6. What role does the cost of capital play in the IRR method and in the NPV method? 7. What is the purpose of a POSTAUDIT? PROBLEMS 1. The following data are given for Barron's Aluminum Company: Initial cost of proposed equipment Estimated useful life Estimated annual savings in cash operating expenses (after taxes) Predicted residual value at the end of the useful life Cost of capital after taxes $80,000 7 years $20,000 $ 4,000 12% (a) Cost 4.20% 12.00% 20.00% 20.00% Weighted Cost 1.68% 1.20 8.00 2.00 12.88%
(b)
Compute the following: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Present value of estimated annual savings Present value of estimated residual value Total present value of estimated cash inflows Net present value (NPV) Internal rate of return (IRR)
2. The Travis Company is considering a capital outlay of $75,000. Net annual cash inflows after taxes are estimated at $15,000 for 10 years. Straight-line depreciation is to be used, with no residual value. Compute the items listed below. 1. Net present value (NPV), assuming a cost of capital after tax of 12 percent. 2. Internal rate of return (IRR) 3. Fill in the blanks for each of the following independent cases. Assume an investment useful life of 10 years. Annual Cash Inflow 1. 2. 3. 4. Investment $200,000 $140,000 (e) (g) Cost of Capital $898,800 (c) $200,000 $300,000 IRR 14% 14% (f) 12% NPV (a) 20% 14% (h)
(b) (d) $35,624 $39,000
4. Horn Corp. invested in a four-year project. Horn's cost of capital after taxes is 8 percent. Additional data about the project follows: Cash Inflow from Operations, After Taxes $3,000 $3,500 $2,400 $2,600 Present Value of $1 at 8% 0.926 0.857 0.794 0.735
Year 1 2 3 4
Assuming a positive net present value of $500, what was the amount of the original investment? 5. Gene, Inc., bought equipment with a useful life of eight years and no residual value. Straight-line depreciation is used. It was anticipated to result cash inflow from operations, net of income taxes, of $4,000. The present value of an ordinary annuity of $1 for eight periods at 10 percent is 5.335. The present value of $1 for eight periods at 10 percent is 0.467. Assume Gene used an internal rate of return of 10 percent. How much was the amount of the initial investment? Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 235
6. UCB Corporation is considering five different investment opportunities. The company's cost of capital is 12 percent. Data on these opportunities under consideration are given below: Profitability Index Investment PV at 12% (rounded) $70,000 $80,000 1.14 40,000 46,000 1.15 25,000 27,453 1.10 20,000 21,000 1.05 18,000 17,000 0.94
Project (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
Rank these five projects in descending order of preference, based to profitability index. Which projects should be chosen if $110,000 is the spending limit? ANSWERS 1. Capital budgeting is the process of evaluating alternative capital projects and selecting alternatives that provide the most profitable return on available funds. 2. The profitability index is the present value of the expected after-tax cash inflows of investment divided by the initial cash outlay. The higher the index, the more profitable the project per dollar of investment. 3. The internal rate of return is the rate of return that equates the present value of future expected cash inflows from an investment with the cost of the investment; it is the rate at which the net present value of the project is zero. 4. The NPV of a project is given by the present value of the expected cash inflows that it will generate minus the initial cost. Projects are acceptable if their NPVs are greater than zero. 5. The cost of capital is the minimum return that is necessary for a firm to maintain its value and grow. 6. Under the IRR method, the cost of capital is a cut-off point for deciding which projects are acceptable for further consideration. Under the NPV method, the cost of capital is the discount rate used to calculate the present value of the cash inflows. 7. The purpose of a post-audit is to determine whether or not a project is living up to its expectations by comparing actual costs and benefits with estimated costs and benefits.
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS 1.
(a) $20,000 x PV factor of an annuity of $1 at 12% for 7 years = $20,000 x 4.564 = $91,280 (b) $4,000 x PV factor of $1 = $4,000 x 0.452 = $1,808 (c) Total PV = $91,280 + 1,808 = $93,088 (d) NPV = PV - I = $93,088 - $80,000 = $13,088 (e) At IRR, I = PV. Thus, $80,000 = $20,000 x PV factor PV factor = $80,000 / $20,000 = 4.00 which is, in the seven-year line, somewhere between 16% and 18%. 2.
1. Net present value (NPV) = PV of cash inflows after taxes [discounted at the cost of capital (12%) ] - Initial investment = $15,000 x T4 - $75,000 = $15,000 (5.650) - $75,000 = $9,750 2. Internal rate of return(IRR) = Rate which equates the amount invested with the present value of cash inflows generated by the project Therefore, we set the following equation: $75,000 = $15,000 (PV Factor) PV Factor = $75,000 / $15,000 = 5 which stands between 14 percent and 16 percent. 14% True rate 16% Difference Using interpolation, 14% + [(5.216 - 5.0000) / (5.216 - 4.833)] (16% 14%) = 14% + [ (0.216) / (0.383)] (2%) Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 237 IRR = Table Value 5.216 5.216 5,000 4,833 0.383 0.216
= 3.
14% + (0.564)(2%) = 14% + 1.13% = 15.13%
1. (a) 18% ($898,800/$200,000 = 4.494, the present value factor for 18% and 10 years) (b) $144,400; ($200,000 x 5.216 = $1,043,200, so NPV = $1,043,200 $898,800 = $144,400) 2.(c) $586,880; ($140,000 x 4.192, the present value factor for 20% and 10 years; at IRR, PV = I) (d) $143,360; ($140,000 x 5.216 = $730,240, so NPV = $730,240 $568,880 = $143,360) 3. (e) $38,344; ($200,000/5.216 factor for 14% and 10 years) (f) 10%; NPV = PV - I; PV= NPV + I; Total PV = = $35,624 + $200,000; $235,624 / $38,344 6.145, the present value factor for 10%
4. (g) $60,000; (Total PV = $39,000 + $300,000 = $339,000 / 5.650 factor for 12% = $60,000) (h) About 15%; ($300,000/$60,000 = 5, which stands halfway between 14% and 16%) 4.
Since NPV = PV - I, I= PV- NPV: Year Cash Inflow Present Value of $1 0.926 0.857 0.794 0.735 Total PV
1 $3,000 $2,778 2 3,500 3,000 3 2,400 1,906 4 2,600 1,911 Present value of future $9,595 Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 238
inflows(PV) Net present value (NPV) Initial outlay (1) 5.
500 $9,095
By definition, at IRR, PV = I or NPV= 0. To determine the amount of initial investment, all that is needed is to compute the present value of $4,000 a year for 8 periods. PV = $4,000 x 5.335 = $21,340 6.
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
Order of Preference Profitability Index 2 1 3 4 5
Projects (a) and (b) should be selected, where combined NPV would be $16,000 ($6,000 + $10,000) with the limited budget of $110,000.
CHAPTER 11 QUIZ 1. The firms cash flows are directly applied in determining the value of a stock when using the dividend growth model. A. The firms capital structure. B. The firms cash flows. C. The firms liquidity. D. The investors required rate of return on the firms stock. 2. The overall cost of capital is the A. Average rate of return a firm earns on its assets. B. Minimum rate a firm must earn on high-risk projects. C. The return rate required to maintain the companys market value (or market price of stock). D. Cost of the firms equity capital at which the market value of the firm will remain unchanged. 3. The technique that reflects the time value of money and is calculated by dividing the present value of the future net after-tax cash inflows that have been discounted at the desired cost of capital by the initial cash outlay for the investment is the A. Net present value method B. Capital rationing method. C. Accounting rate of return method. D. Profitability index method. 4. The technique that recognizes the time value of money by discounting the cash flows for a project over its life to time period zero using the companys minimum required rate of return is the A. Net present value method. B. Capital rationing method. C. Payback method. D. Accounting rate of return method. 5. If an investment project has a profitability index of 1.15, the A. Projects internal rate of return is 15%. B. Projects cost of capital is greater than its internal rate of return. C. Projects internal rate of return exceeds its net present value. D. Net present value of the project is positive. 6. Flex Corporation is studying a capital acquisition proposal in which newly acquired assets will be depreciated using the straight-line method. Which one of the following statements about the proposal would be incorrect if a switch is made to accelerated methods such as the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)? A. The net present value will increase. B. The internal rate of return will increase. C. The payback period will be shortened. D. The profitability index will decrease. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 240
7. A firm seeking to optimize its capital budget has calculated its marginal cost of capital (MCC) and projected rates of return on several potential projects. The optimal capital budget is determined by A. Calculating the point at which marginal cost of capital meets the projected rate of return, assuming that the most profitable projects are accepted first. B. Calculating the point at which average marginal cost meets average projected rate of return, assuming the largest projects are accepted first. C. Accepting all potential projects with projected rates of return exceeding the lowest marginal cost of capital. D. Accepting all potential projects with projected rates of return lower than the highest marginal cost of capital. 8. The marginal cost of capital (MCC) curve for this company rises twice, first when the company has raised $75 million and again when $175 million of new funds has been raised. These increases in the MCC are caused by A. Increases in the returns on the additional investments undertaken. B. Decreases in the cost of at least one of the financing sources. C. Decreases in the returns on the additional investments undertaken. D. Increases in the cost of at least one of the financing sources.
CHAPTER 11 ANSWER KEY 1. (F) is correct. Gordon's valuation model or the dividend growth model is used to calculate the price of a share. The firms cash flows are not part of the formula, as shown below. D1 P0 = r -g (T) is incorrect. The model uses the growth rate in dividends (g) and the investors required rate of return (r). 2. (C) is correct. The overall cost of capital is the return rate required to maintain the companys market value (or market price of stock). The cost of capital is a weighted average cost of a companys financing instruments including bonds, preferred stock, common stock, and retained earnings. (A) is incorrect. The cost of capital is based on what a company pays for its capital, not the return earned on the capital employed. (B) is incorrect. The overall cost of capital is the minimum return a firm must earn on all investments to cover capital costs. (D) is incorrect. The overall cost of capital is based on both debt and equity components. 3. (D) is correct. The profitability index measures the ratio of the present value of future net cash flows to the original investment. This index is used as a means of ranking projects in a capital rationing situation. (A) is incorrect. The NPV method does not divide the future cash flows by the cost. (B) is incorrect. Capital rationing is not a technique but rather a condition that characterizes capital budgeting when insufficient capital is available to finance all profitable investment opportunities. (C) is incorrect. The accounting rate of return method does not discount cash flows. 4. (A) is correct. The net present value method discounts future cash flows to the present value using the firms cost of capital. The initial cost of the project is then deducted from the present value. If the present value of the future cash flows exceeds the cost, the investment is considered to be acceptable. (B) is incorrect. Capital rationing is not a technique but rather a condition that characterizes capital budgeting when the limited amount of capital available is insufficient to fund all profitable investments. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 242
(C) is incorrect. The payback method does not discount cash flows. (D) is incorrect. The accounting rate of return method does not use the time value of future cash flows. 5. (D) is correct. The profitability index is the ratio of the present value of future net cash inflows to the initial net cash investment. It is a variation of the NPV method that facilitates comparison of different-sized investments. A profitability index greater than 1.0 indicates a profitable investment, or one that has a positive net present value. (A) is incorrect. The IRR is the discount rate at which the NPV is $0, which is also the rate at which the profitability index is 1.0. The IRR cannot be determined solely form the index. (B) is incorrect. If the index is 1.15 and the discount rate is the cost of capital, the NPV is positive, and the IRR must be higher than the cost of capital. (C) is incorrect. The IRR is a discount rate, whereas the NPV is an amount. 6. (D) MACRS is an accelerated method of depreciation under which depreciation expense will be greater during the early years of an assets life. Thus, the outflows for income taxes will be less in the early years, but greater in the later years, and the NPV (present value of net cash inflows-investment) will be increased. The profitability index (present value of net cash inflows / the investment) must increase if the NPV increases. (A) is incorrect. The NPV will increase. The present value of the net inflows will increase with no change in the investment. (B) is incorrect. The IRR will increase. Deferring expenses to later years increases the discount rate needed to reduce the NPV to $0. (C) is incorrect. The payback period will be shortened. Switching to MACRS defers expenses and increases cash flows early in the projects life. 7. (A) is correct. In economics, a basic principle is that a firm should increase output until marginal cost equals marginal revenue. Similarly, the optimal capital budget is determined by calculating the point at which marginal cost of capital (which increases as capital requirements increase) and the marginal efficiency of investment (which decreases if the most profitable projects are accepted first) intersect. (B) is incorrect. The intersection of average marginal cost with average projected rates of return when the largest (not most profitable) projects are accepted first offers no meaningful capital budgeting conclusion. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 243
(C) is incorrect. Optimal capital budgeting assumes that the most profitable projects will be accepted first and that the marginal cost of capital increases as capital requirements increase. Thus, it is possible for the optimal capital budget to exclude profitable projects as lower cost capital goes first to projects with higher rates of return. (D) is incorrect. Accepting projects with rates of return lower than the cost of capital is not economically rational business. 8. (D) is correct. The MCC is a weighted average of the costs of the different financing sources. If the cost of any source of financing increases, the MCC curve will rise. The MCC curve is upward sloping because the lowest cost financing sources are assumed to be used first. Thus, as cumulative debt increases, the cost of debt also increases. (A) is incorrect. Financing costs do not depend on rates of return on investment. (B) is incorrect. As additional funds are raised, an increase in the cost of a source of financing, not a decrease, will result in an increase in the MCC. (C) is incorrect. Rates of return on investment and financing costs are independent of each other.
CHAPTER 12 RISK IN PROJECT ANALYSIS LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Explain factors involved in risk. Compute the expected value. Calculate and demonstrate the standard deviation. Formulate and give examples of the coefficient of variation. Diagram the decision tree. Compute and explain the risk-adjusted discount rate. Understand and interpret the certainty equivalent. Give examples and demonstrate the process of simulation.
Risk analysis is the process of measuring and analyzing the risks associated with managerial and investment decisions. It is important especially in making capital investment decisions because of the large amount of capital involved and the long-term nature of the investment being considered. The higher the risk associated with a proposed project, the greater the return that must be earned to compensate for that risk. Note: Decision making under risk entails consideration of multiple possible future states of nature for each choice. The decision is under risk if a probability distribution for these states is known. Thus, the states of nature will be mutually exclusive, and the sum of their probabilities will equal 1.0. Risk increases as the variability of outcomes becomes greater. In practice, however, the terms risk and uncertainty are often treated as synonyms. RISK Risk refers to the variability of cash flow (or earnings) around the expected value (return). Risk can be measured in either absolute or relative terms. Statistics such as standard deviation and coefficient of deviation are used to measure risk EXPECTED VALUE Expected value is a weighted average using the probabilities as weights. For decisions involving uncertainty, the concept of expected value provides a rational means for selecting the best course of action. The expected value ( r ) is found by multiplying the profit outcome for ith possible event by the probability of each profit outcome.
r = ri pi
Where ri is the profit outcome for ith possible event and pi is the probability of occurrence of that profit outcome.
EXAMPLE 1 Consider two investment proposals, A and B, with the following probability distribution of cash flows in each of the next five years: Probability A B Cash Inflows (.2) (.6) (.2) $200 300 400 $100 300 500
The expected value of the cash inflow in proposal A is: $200(.2) + 300(.6) + 400(.2) = $300 The expected value of the cash inflow in proposal B is: $100(.2) + 300(.6) + 500(.2) = $300 Note: A rational economic decision maker (one completely guided by objective criteria) will use expected monetary value to maximize gains under conditions of risk because (s)he is risk-neutral (the utility of a gain equals the disutility of a loss of the same absolute amount). Expected value represents the long-term average payoff for repeated trials. The best choice is the one having the highest expected value (sum of the products of the possible outcomes and their respective probabilities). STANDARD DEVIATION Whenever we talk about the expected value, one statistic that goes with it is standard deviation. Standard deviation is a statistic that measures the tendency of data to be spread out or is also a measure of the dispersion of a probability distribution. The smaller the deviation, the tighter the distribution, and thus, the lower the risk of the project. It is intuitively a margin of error associated with a given expected value. Economists can make important inferences from past data with this measure. It is the square root of the mean of the squared deviations from the expected value ( r ). The standard deviation, denoted with the Greek letter , read as sigma, is calculated as follows: = (r - r )2 pi Where r = ri pi To calculate , we proceed as follows: Step 1. First compute the expected rate of return ( r ) Step 2. Subtract each possible return from r to obtain a set of deviations (r - r ) Step 3. Square each deviation, multiply the squared deviation by the probability of occurrence for its respective return, and sum these products to obtain the variance (2 ): 2 = (r - r )2 p Step 4. Finally, take the square root of the variance to obtain the standard deviation (). The standard deviation can be used to measure the variation of such items Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 246
as the expected profits, expected contribution margin, or expected cash flows. It can also be used to assess the risk associated with investment projects. EXAMPLE 2 In Example 1, the standard deviations of proposals A and B are computed as follows:
For A: A = For B: B = ($200-300) (.2) + (300-300) (.6) + (400-300) (.2) = $63.25 ($100 -300) (.2) + (300-300) (.6) + (500-300) (.2) = $126.49
2 2 2 2 2 2
Proposal B is more risky than proposal A since its standard deviation is greater. COEFFICIENT OF VARIATION Coefficient of variation is a popular measure of relative risk. It represents the degree of risk per unit of return. It is computed by dividing the standard deviation by the expected value.
/ r
EXAMPLE 3 Consider two projects with the following data: Proposal Expected Value A $230 B 250 Standard Deviation $107.7 208.57
The coefficient of variation for each proposal is: For A: $107.7/$230=.47 For B: $208.57/$250=.83. Therefore, because the coefficient is a relative measure of risk, B is considered more risky than A. UTILITY THEORY AND RISK In theory, three possible profiles in risk tolerance or attitudes toward risk exist. They are: aversion to risk, neutrality to risk, and preference for risk. Each decision maker's attitude toward risk is determined by his or her utility of income or wealth. 1. A risk-averse decision maker displays a diminishing marginal utility of income or wealth. This is a common, but not universal, attitude. A risk-averse manager tends to choose options that have very little variation about expected monetary returns. 2. A risk-indifferent decision maker has a constant marginal utility of Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 247
income or wealth. She neither seeks nor avoids risk. (S)he will choose investments for which the expected monetary values are equal to the managers subjectively perceived utility values (expressed in utils, an arbitrary measure). Thus, she has a linear utility function, one in which the monetary amounts and utilities have a constant or directly proportional relationship. Accordingly, (s)he is indifferent to risk. 3. A risk-seekers marginal utility of income or wealth increases. A risk-seeking manager chooses risk. A risk seeker prefers investments that have the potential for large gains even though large losses may also be possible. The utility function for the risk seeker increases at an increasing rate; i.e., riskier investments are appealing. Managerial decisions cannot be based solely on expected outcomes, but must incorporate an analysis of risk attitudes. Figure 1 shows the relations between money and its utility for three types of decision makers: (a) a risk averter, (b) risk-neutral manager, and (c) risk seeker. FIGURE 1 RISK PROFILES AND MONEY/UTILITY RELATIONS
EXAMPLE 4 You are considering two investment choices, each costing $5,000. Cash inflows of possible outcomes and their associated probabilities are: Investment A Investment B Cash inflows Probability Cash inflows Probability $ 6,000 0.25 $ 5,000 0.3 8,000 0.50 9,000 0.5 10,000 0.25 10,000 0.2 Assume that your utility function is given by the following table: Money Utility (Utils) $5,00 0 125 6,000 144 7,000 161 8,000 176 9,000 189 10,000 200
First, the expected value of the cash inflow in Investment A is: $6000(.25) + 8000(.5) + 10000(.25) = $8000 The expected value of the cash inflow in Investment B is: $5000(.3) + 9000(.5) + 10000(.2) = $8000 Second, the standard deviations of Investments A and B are computed as follows: For A:
($6000 - 8000) (.25) + (8000 - 8000) (.5) + (10000 - 8000) (.25) A = = $1414.21
2 2 2
For B:
B =
($5000 - 8000) (.3) + (9000 - 8000) (.5) + (10000 - 8000) (.2)
2 2 2
= $2000 Investment B is more risky that Investment A. Third, the expected utility, E(U), of each investment is computed as follows: For Investment A: E(UA) = 144(.25) + 176(.5) + 200(.25) = 174 utils For Investment B: E(UB) = 125(.3) + 189(.5) + 200(.2) =172 utils Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 249
Based on the expected utility, you should choose Investment A. Since you are a risk averter, having a diminishing marginal utility of money, you would prefer the investment with less risk, with equal expected dollar returns. Note that your utility does not increase by 19 (144 minus 125) as your income increases by $1,000. NOTE: The utility function can take various mathematical forms: for example, 1. U = 30 + 2X (X = money or income) indicates a constant marginal utility of income (i.e., risk neutral) 2. U = 30X - X2 indicates a diminishing marginal utility of income (i.e., risk aversion). 3. U = 20X + X2 indicates an increasing marginal utility of income (i.e., risk seeking). Note: The decision rule that selects the strategy with the highest utility payoff if the worst state of nature occurs is the maximin rule. The maximin rule determines the minimum payoff for each decision and then chooses the decision with the maximum payoff. It is a conservative criterion adopted by risk-averse players, that is, those for whom the disutility of a loss exceeds the utility of an equal gain. RISK ANALYSIS IN CAPITAL BUDGETING Risk analysis is important in making capital investment decisions because of the large amount of capital involved and the long-term nature of the investments being considered. The higher the risk associated with a proposed project, the greater the rate of return that must be earned on the project to compensate for that risk. Since different investment projects involve different risks, it is important to incorporate risk into the analysis of capital budgeting. There are several methods for incorporating risk, including: 1. Probability distributions 2. Risk-adjusted discount rate 3. Certainty equivalent 4. Simulation 5. Sensitivity analysis 6. Decision trees (or probability trees) PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS Expected values of a probability distribution may be computed. Before any capital budgeting method is applied, compute the expected cash inflows, or in some cases, the expected life of the asset.
EXAMPLE 5 A firm is considering a $30,000 investment in equipment that will generate cash savings from operating costs. The following estimates regarding cash savings and useful life, along with their respective probabilities of occurrence, have been made: Annual Cash Savings $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 Probability 0.2 0.5 0.3 Useful Life 4 years 5 years 6 years Probability 0.2 0.6 0.2
Then, the expected annual saving is: $6,000 (0.2) = $8,000 (0.5) = $10,000 (0.3) = The expected useful life is: 4 (0.2) = 5 (0.6) = 6 (0.2) = 0.8 3.0 1.2 5 years $1,200 4,000 3,000 $8,200
The expected NPV is computed as follows (assuming a 10 percent cost of capital): NPV = PV - I = $8,200 T4(10%,5) - $30,000 = $8,200 (3.7908) - $30,000 = $31,085 - $30,000 = $1,085 The expected IRR is computed as follows: By definition, at IRR, I = PV $30,000 = $8,200 T4 (r,5) T4(r,,5) = $30,000 ---------$8,200 = 3.6585
Which is about halfway between 10 percent and 12 percent in Table 4 in the Appendix, so that we can estimate the rate to be about 11 percent. Therefore, the equipment should be purchased, since (1) NPV = $1,085, which is positive, and/or (2) IRR = 11 percent, which is greater than the cost of capital of 10 percent. RISK-ADJUSTED DISCOUNT RATE Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 251
This method of risk analysis adjusts the cost of capital (or discount rate) upward as projects become riskier, i.e., a risk-adjusted discount rate is the riskless rate plus a risk premium. Therefore, by increasing the discount rate from 10 percent to 15 percent, the expected cash flow from the investment must be relatively larger or the increased discount rate will generate a negative NPV, and the proposed acquisition/investment would be turned down. The expected cash flows are discounted at the risk-adjusted discount rate and then the usual capital budgeting criteria such as NPV and IRR are applied. NOTE: The use of the risk-adjusted discount rate is based on the assumption that investors demand higher returns for riskier projects. EXAMPLE 6 A firm is considering an investment project with an expected life of 3 years. It requires an initial investment of $35,000. The firm estimates the following data in each of the next 4 years: After-Tax Cash Inflow -$5,000 $10,000 $30,000 $50,000 Probability 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2
Assuming a risk-adjusted required rate of return (after taxes) of 20 percent is appropriate for the investment projects of this level or risk, compute the risk-adjusted NPV. First, the present value is: PV= -$5,000(0.2) + $10,000(0.3) + $30,000(0.3) + $50,000(0.2)=$21,000 The expected NPV = $21,000 T4(20%,3) - $35,000 = 21,000 (2,107)-$35,000 = $44,247 - $35,000 = $9,247 CERTAINTY EQUIVALENT APPROACH The certainty equivalent approach to risk analysis is to convert cash flows from individual projects into risk adjusted certainty equivalent cash flows. The approach is drawn directly from the concept of utility theory. This method forces the decision maker to specify at what point the firm is indifferent to the choice between a certain sum of money and the expected value of a risky sum. Under this approach, first determine a certainty equivalent adjustment factor, , as: Certain sum ---------------------------Equivalent risky sum
Once s are obtained, they are multiplied by the original cash flow to obtain the equivalent certain cash flow. Then, the accept-or-reject decision is made, using the normal capital budgeting criteria. The risk-free rate of return is used as the discount rate under the NPV method and as the cutoff rate under the IRR method. EXAMPLE 7 XYZ, Inc., with a 14 percent cost of capital after taxes is considering a project with an expected life of 4 years. The project requires an initial certain cash outlay of $50,000. The expected cash inflows and certainty equivalent coefficients are as follows: Year 1 2 3 4 After-Tax Cash Flow Certainty Equivalent Adjustment Factor $10,000 0.95 15,000 0.80 20,000 0.70 25,000 0.60
Assuming that the risk-free rate of return is 5 percent, the NPV and IRR are computed as follows: First, the equivalent certain cash inflows are obtained as follows: After-Tax Cash Inflow $10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 Equivalent Certain Cash Inflow $ 9,500 12,000 14,000 15,000
Year 1 2 3 4
0.95 0.80 0.70 0.60
PV at 5% 0.9524 0.9070 0.8638 0.8227
PV $9,048 10,884 12,093 12,341 44,366
NPV = $44,366 - $50,000 = -$5,634 By trial and error, we obtain 4 percent as the IRR. Therefore, the project should be rejected, since (1) NPV= -$5,634, which is negative and/or (2) IRR = 4 percent is less than the risk-free rate of 5 percent.
SIMULATION This risk analysis method is frequently called Monte Carlo simulation. It requires that a probability distribution be constructed for each of the important variables affecting the project's cash flows. Since a computer is used to generate many results using random numbers, project simulation is expensive. SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS Forecasts of many calculated NPVs under various alternative functions are compared to see how sensitive NPV is to changing conditions. It may be found that a certain variable or group of variables, once their assumptions are changed or relaxed, drastically alters the NPV. This results in a much riskier asset than was originally forecast. DECISION TREES Some firms use decision trees (probability trees) to evaluate the risk of capital budgeting proposals. A decision tree is a graphical method of showing the sequence of possible outcomes. A capital budgeting tree would show the cash flows and NPV of the project under different possible circumstances. The decision tree method has the following advantages: (1) It visually lays out all the possible outcomes of the proposed project and makes management aware of the adverse possibilities, and (2) the conditional nature of successive years' cash flows can be expressly depicted. The disadvantages are: (1) most problems are too complex to permit year-by-year depiction and (2) it does not recognize risk. Note: In a decision tree, the events following from a decision are mutually exclusive. Also, all possible events are included. Thus, the sum of the probabilities of the events is 1.0. EXAMPLE 8 Assume XYZ Corporation wishes to introduce one of two products to the market this year. The probabilities and present values (PV) of projected cash inflows are given below: Product A Initial investment PV of cash inflows $225,000 $450,000 200,000 -100,000 80,000 320,000 100,000 -150,000 Probabilities 1.00 0.40 0.50 0.10 1.00 0.20 0.60 0.20
A decision tree analyzing the two products is given in Figure 2.
FIGURE 2
Based on the expected NPV, choose product A over product B. This analysis fails to recognize the risk factor in project analysis. QUESTIONS 1. What is risk analysis in capital budgeting? 2. How do you define risk? 3. What is meant by the term expected value? 4. What kinds of attitudes toward risk exist? 5. List five common categories of risk. 6. How does the standard deviation differ from the coefficient of variation? 7. What is a risk-adjusted discount rate? 8. Define a certainty equivalent adjustment factor. How is it used? 9. What is a decision tree? Explain how is it used, and discuss the problem inherent in its application to capital project analysis. PROBLEMS 1. Assume likely rate of return (including dividends and price changes), depending upon the economic climate (i.e., prosperity, normal, and stagflation).
State of economy Prosperity Normal Stagflation
Return (r ) 20% 10 -5
Probability (p ) .5 .3 .2
(a) Compute the expected return. (b) Compute the standard deviation 2. The probabilities and net cash inflows of an investment are: Probability 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 Net Cash Inflows $ 60 80 90 115 150
(a) Calculate the expected value, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation. (b) Is this investment considered relatively risky or riskless? Why? 3. The sales manager of the Electronic Toy Company is considering two toys: a doll and a game. The toys have discrete probability distributions of cash inflows in each of the next three years. Event Prosperity Normal Recession Doll $20,000 15,000 9,000 Probability 0.2 0.5 0.3 Game $42,000 20,000 (5,000)
1. For each toy item, compute (a) The expected value of the cash inflows in each of the next three years (b) The standard deviation (c) The coefficient of variation 2. Which toy would you select, and why? 4. Handu, Inc., is contemplating a capital investment project with an expected useful life of 10 years that requires an initial cash outlay of $225,000. The company estimates the following data:
Annual Cash Inflows ($) 0 50,000 65,000 70,000 90,000
Probabilities 0.10 0.20 0.40 0.20 0.10
(a) Assuming a risk-adjusted required rate of return of 25 percent is appropriate for projects of this level of risk, calculate the risk-adjusted NPV of the project. (Given T4(25%, l0) = 3.8135) (b) Should the project be accepted? 5. Moore Corporation is considering the purchase of a new machine that will last 5 years and require a cash outlay of $300,000. The firm has a 12 percent cost of capital rate and its after-tax risk-free rate is 9 percent. The company has expected cash inflows and certainty equivalents for these cash inflows, as follows: Year 1 2 3 4 5 After-Tax Cash Inflows ($) 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 Certainty Equivalent 1.00 0.95 0.90 0.80 0.70
(a) Calculate the unadjusted NPV and the certainty equivalent NPV. (b) Determine if the machine should be purchased. 6. Based on the industry supply and demand analysis, Madden Corporation wishes to build a full-scale manufacturing facility. It is considering: A. Build a large plant, costing $6 million. B. Build a small plant, costing $2 million. The probabilities of various demands and present values of projected cash inflows for these demand situations are given below. Action A Demand Conditions High Medium Low PV of Cash Inflows ($) $8 million 4 million 1.5 million Probabilities 0.5 0.3 0.2
High $3 million 0.5 Medium 2 million 0.3 Low 1.5 million 0.2 Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 257
(a) Construct a decision tree to analyze the two options. (b) Which option would you choose? Comment on your decision. ANSWERS 1. Risk analysis is the process of measuring and analyzing the risks associated with managerial and investment decisions. 2. Risk refers to the variability of cash flow (or earnings) around the expected value (return). 3. Expected value is a weighted average using the probabilities as weights. For decisions involving risk or uncertainty, the concept of expected value provides a rational means for selecting the best course of action. 4. (a) a risk averter, (b) risk-neutral manager, and (c) risk seeker. 5. Liquidity risk. The chance that corporate assets or investments may not be sold on short notice for its market value. (2) Inflation (purchasing power) risk. The failure of corporate agreements involving a fixed payment (such as leases and corporate bonds) to earn a return to keep up with increasing price levels. (3) Interest rate risk. The variability in the value of an asset to changing interest rates and money conditions. For example, if interest rates increase (decrease), bond (stock) prices decrease (increase). (4) Business risk. The risk associated with changes in a firm's sales. This may be due to operating difficulties such as strike and technological obsolescence. (5) Market risk. The change in the price of a portfolio of investments arising from changes in the overall stock market, irrespective of the fundamental financial condition of the company. For instance, stock prices of companies may be impacted by bull or bear markets. 6. Risk can be measured in either absolute or relative terms. Standard deviation and coefficient of variation are used to measure risk. Standard deviation is a measure of absolute risk, while the coefficient of variation is used to measure relative risk. 7. This method of risk analysis adjusts the cost of capital (or discount rate) upward as projects become riskier, i.e., a risk-adjusted discount rate is the riskless rate plus a risk premium. 8. A certainty equivalent adjustment factor, , is defined as:
=
Certain sum ---------------------------Equivalent risky sum
Once s are obtained, they are multiplied by the original cash flow to obtain the equivalent certain cash flow. Then, the accept-or-reject decision is made, using the normal capital budgeting criteria. 9. A decision tree is a graphical method of showing the sequence of possible outcomes. A capital budgeting tree would show the cash flows and NPV of the project under different possible circumstances. The disadvantages are: (1) most problems are too complex to permit year-by-year depiction and (2) it fails to recognize risk. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 258
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS 1. (a) The expected rate is:

r = (20%)(.5) + (10%)(.3) + (-5%)(.2) =12%
On average, your annual return is 12%, ranging from a 5 percent loss to 20 percent gain. (b)
Return (r ) 20% 10 -5 Probability (p ) .5 .3 .2
2 2
rp 10% 3 -1 r =12%
(r - r ) 8% -2 -17
(r - r ) 64 4 289
(r - r ) p 32 1.2 57.8 91
91 =9.54%
The expected annual return has an average variation of 9.54 percent. 2. (a) Expected value = ($60)(0.2) + ($80)(0.1) + ($90)(0.3) + ($115)(0.2) + ($150)(0.2) = $100 Standard deviation =
(0.2)($60 - $100)
+ (0.1)($80 - $100) + (0.3)($90 - $100) + (0.2)($115 - $100) + (0.2)($150 - $100) = $30.58
Coefficient of variation = $30.58/$100 = 0.3 (b) The investment is relatively riskless because the coefficient of variation is low.
3. (a) For the doll: Expected value = ($20,000)(0.2) + ($15,000)(0.5) + ($9,000)(0.3) = $4,000 + $7,500 + $2,700 = $14,200 For the game: Expected value = ($42,000)(0.2) + ($20,000)(0.5) + ($5,000)(0.3) = $8,400 + $10,000 + $1,500 = $19,900 (b) For the doll:
2 2 2
($20000 - 14200) (.2) + ($15000 - 14200) (.5) + ($9000 -14200) (.3)
= $3,893.58 For the game:

($42000 -16900) (.2) + ($20000 - 16900) (.5) + ($5000 - 16900) (.3)
2 2 2
= $16,573.77 (c) The coefficient of variation is: For the doll $3,893.58 / $14,200 = 0.274 For the game $16,573.77/$19,900 = 0.833. 2. Since the coefficient is a relative measure of risk, the game is said to have a greater degree of risk than the doll. Therefore, the doll is the better choice. 4. (a ) r= = $0(0.10) + $50,000(0.2) + $65,000(0.4) + $70,000(0.2) + $90,000(0.1) $0 + $10,000 + $26,000 + $14,000 + $9,000 = $59,000
Expected NPV = PV- I = $59,000 T4(25%, l0) - $225,000 = $210,689- $225,000 = -$14,311 (b) Reject the project, since the expected NPV is negative. 5. (a) NPV = = PV ~ I = $100,000 T4(12%,5) - $300,000 $100,000(3.605)- $300,000 = $360,500 - $300,000 = $60,500 Certainty Equivalents 1.00 0.95 0.90 0.80 0.70 Certain Cash Inflows ($) 100,000 95,000 90,000 80,000 70,000 PV at 9% 0.917 0.842 0.772 0.708 0.650 PV {$) 91,700 79,990 69,480 56,640 45,500 343,310
Year 1 2 3 4 5
After-Tax Cash Inflows ($) 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000
Certainty equivalent NPV= $343,310- $300,000= $43,310 (b) Because of a positive NPV, the machine should be purchased.
6. (a) Expected NPVs for A and B are as follows: Action A Demand Conditions High Medium Low PV of Cash Inflows ($) Probabilitie s (1) (2) $8 million 0.5 4 million 0.3 1.5 million 0.2 PV I Expected NPV = $3 million 2 million 1.5 million 0.5 0.3 0.2 PV I Expected NPV = (1)x (2) $4 million 1.2 million 0.3 million $5.5 million 6.0 million -0.5 million $1.5 million .6 million .3 million $2.4 million 2.0 million 0.4 million
High Medium Low
(b) Choose Option B since its expected NPV is greater than Option As. This approach does not tell us how risky each option is.
CHAPTER 12 QUIZ 1. Under conditions of risk, the rational, economic decision maker will use which one of the following decision criteria? A. Maximax. B. Expected (monetary) value. C. Minimum regret. D. Laplace. 2. The proper discount rate to use in calculating certainty equivalent net present value is the A. Risk-adjustment discount rate. B. Cost of equity capital. C. Risk-free rate. D. Cost of debt. 3. Management of a company has asked Chief Economist to assist in determining whether a new automated system should be implemented and whether the supporting software should be developed in-house, purchased, or leased. This will require evaluating a sequence of alternatives, each of which will result in different outcomes. The most effective tool the company can use to evaluate these choices in terms of cost would be A. Ratio analysis. B. Payoff tables. C. Queuing theory. D. Decision tree. 4. In decision tree analysis, the sum of the probabilities of the events is less than one. TRUE / FALSE 5. When a decision maker is faced with a decision and the probabilities of various outcomes are known, the situation is said to be decision making A. Under risk. B. Under uncertainty. C. Under capacity. D. Through satisficing. 6. Managers have varying attitudes regarding risk. A risk-neutral manager A. Avoids risk. B. Has a linear utility function. C. Tends to choose options that involve large variations of actual monetary returns about expected monetary values. D. Tends to choose options that have very little variation about expected monetary returns. 7. A risk-averse manager tends to choose options that have very little variation about expected monetary returns. TRUE / FALSE Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 263
8. A risk-seeking manager A. Neither seeks nor avoids risk. B. Has a linear utility function. C. Tends to choose options that involve large variations of actual monetary returns about expected monetary values. D. Tends to choose options that have very little variation about expected monetary returns. 9. The decision rule that selects the strategy with the highest utility payoff if the worst state of nature occurs is the A. Maximize regret rule. B. Maximize utility rule. C. Maximin rule. D. Maximax rule.
CHAPTER 12 ANSWER KEY 1. (B) is correct. A rational economic decision maker (one completely guided by objective criteria) will use expected monetary value to maximize gains under conditions of risk because (s)he is risk-neutral (the utility of a gain equals the disutility of a loss of the same absolute amount). Expected value represents the long-term average payoff for repeated trials. The best choice is the one having the highest expected value (sum of the products of the possible outcomes and their respective probabilities). (A) is incorrect. Maximax is adopted by risk seekers. (C) is incorrect. The minimum regret criterion is used by a player who wishes to minimize the effect of a bad decision in either direction. (D) is incorrect. The insufficient reason (Laplace) criterion applies when the decision maker cannot assign probabilities to the states of nature arising after a decision. 2. (C) is correct. Rational investors choose projects that yield the best return given some level of risk. If an investor desires no risk, that is, an absolutely certain rate of return, the risk-free rate is used in calculating NPV. The risk-free rate is the return on a risk-free investment such as Treasury bonds. (A) is incorrect. A risk-adjustment discount rate does not represent an absolutely certain rate of return. A discount rate is adjusted upward as the investment becomes riskier. (B) is incorrect. The cost of equity capital does not equate to the certainty equivalence of a risk-free investments return. (D) is incorrect. The cost of debt capital does not associate with the certainty equivalence of a risk-free investments return. 3. (D) is correct. A decision tree is useful when the most beneficial series of decisions is to be chosen. The possible decisions for each decisions point, the events that might follow from each decision, the probabilities of these events, and the quantified outcomes of the events should be known. (A) is incorrect. Ratio analysis considers only one part of the decision to be made. Ratio analysis is useful when analyzing costs and efficiencies. (B) is incorrect. Payoff tables are useful in assessing an individual decision. (C) is incorrect. Queuing theory is an approach to minimize the costs of waiting lines. 4. (F) is correct. In a decision tree, the events following from a decision are mutually exclusive. Also, all possible events are included. Thus, the sum of the probabilities of the events is 1.0. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 265
(T) is incorrect. In a decision tree, all possible events must be included. Hence, the sum of the probabilities of the events is 1.0. 5. (A) is correct. Decision making under risk entails consideration of multiple possible future states of nature for each choice. The decision is under risk if a probability distribution for these states is known. Thus, the states of nature will be mutually exclusive, and the sum of their probabilities will equal 1.0. Risk increases as the variability of outcomes becomes greater. In practice, however, the terms risk and uncertainty are often treated as synonyms. (B) is incorrect. Under uncertainty, the probabilities of the possible states of nature are unknown. (C) is incorrect. Under certainty, the outcome of each decision choice is known; that is, its probability is 1.0. (D) is incorrect. Satisficing decisions are satisfactory or sufficient but not optimal. 6. (B) is correct. A risk-neutral manager neither seeks nor avoids risk. (S)he will choose investments for which the expected monetary values are equal to the managers subjectively perceived utility values (expressed in utils, an arbitrary measure). Thus, the decision maker has a linear utility function, one in which the monetary amounts and utils have a constant or directly proportional relationship. Accordingly, (s)he is indifferent to risk. (A) is incorrect. A risk-averse manager avoids risk. (C) is incorrect. A risk-seeking manager tends to accept greater variability of returns. (D) is incorrect. It describes the tendency of a risk-averse manager. 7. (T) is correct. The risk-averse manager will avoid risk. She displays a diminishing marginal utility of income or wealth. This is a common, but not universal, attitude. She tends to choose options that have very little variation about expected monetary returns. (F) is incorrect. A risk-averse manager would not want very high variation about expected monetary returns. 8. (C) is correct. A risk-seeking manager chooses risk. A risk seeker prefers investments that have the potential for large gains even though large losses may also be possible. The utility function for the risk seeker increases at an increasing rate; i.e., riskier investments are appealing. (A) is incorrect. Each is typical of a risk-neutral manager. (B) is incorrect. A risk-neutral manager has a linear utility function. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 266
(D) is incorrect. It describes the risk-averse manager. 9. (C) is correct. The maximin rule determines the minimum payoff for each decision and then chooses the decision with the maximum payoff. It is a conservative criterion adopted by risk-averse players, that is, those for whom the disutility of a loss exceeds the utility of an equal gain. (A) is incorrect. The minimize regret rule selects the action that minimizes the maximum opportunity cost. (B) is incorrect. The maximize utility rule is not a decision rule. (D) is incorrect. The maximax rule selects the choice that provides the greatest payoff if the most favorable state of nature occurs.
CHAPTER 13 A MANAGER'S GUIDE TO GOVERNMENT IN THE MARKET PLACE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this chapter you will be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. List and give examples of an antitrust policy. Explain the implications of the Clayton Antitrust Act. Identify the role of the Robinson-Patman Act. Characterize and outline the components of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Differentiate between positive and negative externalities. Explain and give examples of public goods. Compute and illustrate the benefit-cost ratio.
An important element of the competitive environment is the growing importance of government involvement in the market economy. Recent changes in the method and scope of government regulation, including moves toward deregulation, affect the entire spectrum of economic activity, from industrials, to financial institutions (banks, savings and loans, insurance, etc.), to power and transportation utilities. Both state and federal regulation and antitrust policy constitute important constraints on many managerial decisions. As a result, their analysis constitutes an important aspect of managerial economics. This chapter presents the role of government in the market economy, including: (a) economic and political rationale for regulation, (b) direct regulation of firms possessing substantial market power, (c) antitrust policy designed to maintain a "workable" level of competition in the economy, and (d) public expenditure decisions and cost-benefit analysis. THE RATIONALE FOR REGULATION Government regulation is sometimes justified on the basis of its ability to correct various market imperfections or market failures which lead to inefficiency and waste. Most often, market failure is thought to be caused by: (a) Structural problems: too few buyers or sellers. (b) Incentive problems: externalities such as pollution. Government regulation is sometimes justified on the basis of political considerations. Primary among such considerations are desires to: (a) Preserve Consumer Choice: A wide variety of production enhances personal freedom. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 268
(b) Limit Economic and Political Power: Unchecked economic and political power could threaten basic liberties. ANTITRUST POLICY: GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF MARKET CONDUCT AND STRUCTURE Antitrust policy is a set of legislations aimed at prohibiting monopolies, restraints of trade, price fixing and discrimination, exorbitant quantity discounts to large buyers, and conspiracies to suppress competition. Federal statutes include the Sherman Antitrust Act, Clayton Antitrust Act, Robinson-Patman Act, and Cellar-Kefauver Act. Antitrust laws are designed to promote more efficient allocation of resources, greater choice for consumers, greater business opportunities, fairness in economic behavior, and avoidance of concentrated political power resulting from economic power. Competition results in greater output and lower prices than other market structures. Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) The cornerstone of U.S. antitrust policy is contained in Sections I and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890: Section 1: Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several states, or with foreign nations, is hereby declared to be illegal. Every person who shall make any such contract or engage in any such combination or conspiracy shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and, on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars (one million dollars if a corporation, or, if any other person, one hundred thousand dollars) or by imprisonment not exceeding one (three) years, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of the court. Section 2: Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars (one million dollars if a corporation, or, if any other person, one hundred thousand dollars) or by imprisonment not exceeding one (three) years, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of the court. Clayton Act (1914) The Clayton Act was designed to overcome some of the ambiguity of the Sherman Act by explicitly prohibiting certain behavior. The Clayton Antitrust Act is one of three major antitrust laws, passed as an amendment to the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1914. The Act listed four illegal practices in restraint of competition. It outlawed price discrimination, tying contracts and exclusive dealerships, and horizontal mergers. It also outlawed interlocking directorates (the practice of having the same people serve as directors of two or more competing firms). Section 2: Forbade price discrimination between firms which tended to Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 269
lessen competition. This section was later amended by the Robinson-Patman Act (1936). It is important to remember that price discrimination between consumers, such as senior citizen discounts for bus service, is legal. Section 3: Made leases or any sales contracts which lessened competition illegal. This provision was aimed at so-called tying contracts. Section 7: Forbade stock mergers for monopoly purposes. Robinson-Patman Act (1936) The Robinson Patman Act (1936) is an amendment to strengthen Section 2 of the Clayton Act regarding price discrimination. For example, Section 2(a) of the Robinson Patman Act amends Section 2 of the Clayton Act and makes price discrimination illegal if it is designed to lessen competition or create a monopoly: Section 2 (a): That it shall be unlawful for any person engaged in commerce, in the course of such commerce, either directly or indirectly, to discriminate in price between different purchasers of commodities of like grade and quality, where such discrimination may be substantially to lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly in line of commerce, or to injure, destroy, or prevent competition. Price discrimination that arises because of cost or quality differences is permitted under the act, as is price discrimination when it is necessary to meet a competitor's price in a market. Still, there is considerable ambiguity regarding whether a particular type of price discrimination is illegal under the law. Cellar-Kefauver Act (1950) The Cellar-Kefauver Act (1950) strengthened Section 7 of the Clayton Act by making it more difficult for firms to engage in mergers and acquisitions without violating the law: Section 7: That no corporation engaged in commerce shall acquire, directly or indirectly, the whole or any part of the stock or other share capital and no corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission shall acquire the whole or any part of the assets of another corporation engaged also in commerce, where in any line of commerce in any section of the country, the effect of such acquisition may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly. Enforcement The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are charged with the task of enforcing antitrust regulations. The FTC has limited judicial power; taking violators to court falls almost exclusively on the Antitrust Division of the DOJ. Instead, the FTC issues cease-and-desist orders based on information gathered in a specific case. If the cease-and-desist order is not followed, the FTC may levy a fine of up to $10,000 on the guilty party. If further noncompliance occurs, the FTC usually enjoins the DOJ for further prosecution. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 270
RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND THE SUPPLY OF PUBLIC GOODS The resource allocation question applies both to privately produced goods and to public sector output. In theory the amount of any good that should be supplied at a point in time is that quantity which equates the marginal social cost (MSC) of the good with its marginal social benefit (MSB). First, the marginal private economic cost of a good includes all explicit and implicit costs of its production that are borne by the producer. A product's marginal social cost differs from its marginal private cost by the amount of external costs (third-party costs) that accompany the production of an incremental unit of output. This cost includes the value to consumers of any alternative product or products whose production is reduced or eliminated. In a similar fashion we can define marginal social benefit as the sum of marginal private benefits and marginal external, or third-party, benefits. The private benefits accrue to those who directly pay a price for the good, while the external benefits are enjoyed by either the purchaser or the nonpurchasers but are not accounted for in the product's market price. A good should be provided up to the quantity where MSC = MSB. A theoretically optimal allocation of society's resources exists when for all goods the condition that MSB = MSC is attained. EXAMPLE 1 Assume a two-good case, where a and b are the goods, where both costs and benefits are measured in dollars, and where initially we have MSBa = MSCa= 20 MSBb = MSCb = 40 Thus, the social cost of producing the marginal or last unit of a is $20, while that of producing the marginal unit of b is $40. Obviously, it is also true that MSBa -----MSCa = MSBb -----MSCb =1
First, for a given income distribution, efficient resource allocation will take place when, for n goods, MSBa MSBb MSBn =1 ---= ----= .. ------MSCa MSCb MSCn This condition simply means that a dollar's worth of social benefit is received for an additional dollar spent on the production of each good. Any deviation from this condition would result in a situation where too much of some good (or goods) and too little of some other good (or goods) is produced.
NOTE: 1. The optimal quantity of a public good (Q*) is produced where the MSB of the good equals its MSC. At Q*, net social benefitthe difference between total social benefit t and total social cost-is maximized. Production beyond Q* would add more to social cost than to social benefit. 2. No incremental activity (j) should be undertaken where MSCj > MSBj PUBLIC PROJECT ANALYSIS AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS In public project analysis, we seek to evaluate investments from the point of view of society as a whole. This means that we need to determine social benefits deriving from public projects and social costs incurred to launch those projects. A social benefit is any gain in utility and a social cost is any loss of utility as measured by the opportunity cost of the project in question. We use cost-benefit analysis, which is simply the extension of capital project analysis, as discussed in Chapter 11, to public sector microeconomic decisions. The steps usually taken in the construction of a cost-benefit analysis for a public-sector undertaking are as follows: 1. Specify objectives and identify constraints. 2. Formulate alternative means of meeting objectives. 3. Estimate costs of each alternative. 4. Estimate benefits attributable to each alternative. 5. Select the best alternative. The benefit-cost (B/C) ratio or profitability index is widely used for public expenditure decisions. CLASSIFICATION OF GOODS Most goods originate with private sectors. They are categorized as private goods, and those that are governmental in origin are public goods. Public goods are nonrival and nonexclusionary in consumption and therefore benefit persons other than those who buy the goods. A good is nonrival in consumption if the consumption of the good by one person does not preclude other people from also consuming the good. A good is nonexclusionary if, once provided, no one can be excluded from consuming it. Examples of public goods are radio signals, lighthouses, national defense, and clean air. In order to determine which public goods or projects are worthwhile, and their optimal magnitude, we have to quantify the expected stream of costs and the value of the benefits, and whether revenues can be collected or not. Since any public project involves expected future flows of costs and benefits, we need to deal with the issue of appropriate discounting. What is a proper social discount rate is an unresolved issue.
NOTE: Whether market interest rates adequately reflect the time preferences of society or the productivity of public projects is always subject to debate. SOCIAL GOODS AND EXTERNALITIES When goods are public or social goods, there are always non-market interactions in which people are forced to provide resources to others while receiving full compensation or in which people receive benefits without having to make appropriate payments. These non-market flows of burdens and benefits are known as externalities. Externalities are third-party spillover, or neighborhood, effects. Externalities are the positive (external economies) or negative (external diseconomies) effects that market exchanges have on people who do not participate directly in those exchanges. Positive externalities include the social benefits conferred by a firm in training workers who become available to work for other firms that incur no training costs. Negative externalities are costs of producing, marketing, consuming a product that is not borne by the product's manufacturers or consumers. These types of externalities include traffic congestion and air pollution. The term technological externalities is often used and is distinguished from pecuniary externalities. Quantifying these externalities and including them in estimates of social benefits and social costs may not be an easy task. EXAMPLE 2 State Senator Dan Smith has proposed a new state supported convention facility in the state's capitol. The convention facility would provide the state with annual social benefits $500,000 (in lease receipts and in positive externalities) and would cost $4,000,000. The project has a 15 year life. The state planning board normally uses a 9% discount rate when evaluating capital projects. To determine if the state legislature should adopt Smith's proposal, we can calculate the benefit-cost (B/C) ratio. The present value of the benefit is: $500,000 at 9% for 15 years = $500,000 x 8.061= $4,030,500. B/C = 4,030,500/4,000,000 = 1.008, thus the state should accept Smith's proposal because it has a B/C ratio greater than 1. QUESTIONS 1. Compare the application of the marginality concept in the private and public sectors. 2. Give an example of a public good. Explain why it is a public good. 3. Give four reasons why free markets may fail to provide the socially efficient output of goods or services. 4. Explain the implications of the Robinson Patman Act for business decisions. 5. List the basic steps used in cost-benefit analysis. 6. Describe the importance of externalities in the analysis of public goods? Do market prices of private goods adequately reflect externalities? Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 273
5. What principle determines the optimal allocation of public goods? Discuss why this principle equally applies to privately produced goods. PROBLEMS 1. City Council member Norm Henteleff has proposed a new airport facility. The facility would provide the state with $300,000 in net cash flow (lending fees, rent, etc.) and would cost $1,800,000. The project has a 20 year life. The Citys planning board normally uses a 10% discount rate when evaluating capital projects. Should the city council adopt Smith's proposal? Use the cost-benefit ratio. 2. Which of the following projects would be acceptable from a cost-benefit standpoint if the applicable discount rate is 6%? Project A B C Project Life 20 15 10 Annual Benefits $50,000 $ 5,000 $30,000 Annual Costs $20,000 $ 1,000 $ 7,000 Capital Outlay $300,000 $ 40,000 $150,000
ANSWERS 1. In public sector economic analysis, the concept of marginal revenue and marginal cost can be translated into marginal social benefit and marginal social cost. It is important to recognize that while it may be difficult to achieve the demand and cost functions necessary to determine if a firm is operating at MR=MC, it may be next to impossible to determine the social benefits attributable to a public project, and extremely difficult to determine public cost. 2. National defense is an example of a public good, since once it is provided, no citizens in a country cannot be excluded from the benefits. 3. They are (1) market power, (2) externalities, (3) public goods, and (4) incomplete information. 4. Section 2(a) of the Robinson Patman Act makes price discrimination illegal. Basically, this Act helps maintain market competition. Price discrimination due to cost differences or required to meet competition is not illegal. 5. The basic steps taken in the construction of a cost-benefit analysis for a public-sector undertaking are as follows: (a)Specify objectives and identify constraints, (b) Formulate alternative means of meeting objectives, (c) Estimate costs of each alternative, (d) Estimate benefits attributable to each alternative, and (e) Select the best alternative. 6. Public goods generate benefits to parties who do not engage in a market transaction to obtain them. These benefits are called "external benefits," or simply externalities. The market prices of privately produced goods do not reflect externalities, however, since it is difficult or impossible to force those who enjoy the externalities to pay for them. 7. The rule states that the optimal allocation of a public good is achieved when the marginal social cost of the good equals its marginal social benefit. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 274
The principle is essentially the same as the profit maximizing principle of MR = MC.
Solutions to problems 1. The present value of the benefit is: $300,000 at 10% for 20 years = $300,000 x 8.514 $2,554,200. B/C = 2,554,200/1,800,000 = 1.419, thus the council should accept Henteleffs proposal because it has a B/C ratio greater than 1. 2. Project A: PV of annual net benefits = (50,000 - 20,000) = 30,000 x 11.47 = 344,100 B/C = 344,100/300,000 = 1.147; acceptable. Project B: PV of annual net benefits = (5,000 - 1,000) = 4,000 x 9.712 = 38,848 B/C = 38,848/40,000 = 0.9712, not acceptable. Project C: PV of annual net benefits = (30,000 - 7,000) = 23,000 x 7.360 = 169,280 B/C = 169,280/150,000 = 1.129, acceptable.
CHAPTER 13 QUIZ 1. Antitrust laws are intended to A. Establish set profit percentages for firms in regulated industries. B. Prohibit firms in the same industry from engaging in joint ventures. C. Require firms in regulated industries to share any patent rights with other firms in that industry. D. Ensure a free and competitive market in which consumer demand dictates prices. 2. The Clayton Act, as amended, prohibits unfair and deceptive business practices, such as misleading advertising. TRUE / FALSE 3. The impact of successful prosecution for restraint of trade violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act has been less than many proponents hoped for because A. Only a limited number of criminal prosecutions have ever been filed under Section 1 of the Act. B. Most companies avoid behaviors that might be construed as antitrust violations because of the likelihood of fines and even jail sentences. C. The predominant criterion for criminal prosecution is market share; a company's intent is inconsequential. D. The courts created in the beginning a "rule of reason" that required determining whether competition was lessened by the company's behavior. 4. Which one of the following examples of corporate behavior would most clearly represent a violation of the Sherman Act? A. A retailer offers quantity discounts to large institutional buyers. B. Two firms in the same industry agree in a telephone conversation to submit identical bids on a government contract. C. The members of a labor union meet and agree not to work for a specific firm unless the starting wage is at least $10 per hour. D. Two firms that are in different, unrelated industries merge. 5. Which one of the following transactions would be considered a violation of the Robinson-Patman Act? A. The sale of goods of like quality at different prices to two different wholesalers, both of whom are located outside the United States. B. The sale of goods of like quality within the United States but across state lines at different prices to two different wholesalers in the same geographic area. C. The sale of goods of like quality within the United States at different prices based on cost differences related to the method of delivery. D. The sale of goods of like quality within the United States at different prices to two different wholesalers; all parties are located within the same state. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 276
6. Which one of the following laws prohibits price discrimination and other exclusionary practices that may give certain firms a competitive advantage over other firms in the same market? A. Robinson-Patman Act. B. Celler-Kefauver Act. C. Federal Trade Commission Act. D. Sherman Act.
CHAPTER 13 ANSWER KEY 1. (D) is correct. Antitrust laws are designed to promote more efficient allocation of resources, greater choice for consumers, greater business opportunities, fairness in economic behavior, and avoidance of concentrated political power resulting from economic power. Competition results in greater output and lower prices than other market structures. (A) is incorrect. Profit percentages are not set by antitrust laws other than to the extent that price discrimination is prohibited. (B) is incorrect. Firms may enter into joint ventures. (C) is incorrect. Patents are available to all inventors, regardless of size. 2. (F) is correct. The Clayton Act of 1914 prohibits (1) mergers that may lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly, (2) sales that prevent the buyer from dealing with the sellers competitors, (3) tie-in sales (requiring a buyer to take other products in order to buy the first product), (4) price discrimination, and (5) interlocking directorates. The Federal Trade Commission Act addresses unfair and deceptive business practices such as false advertising. (T) is incorrect. The Federal Trade Commission Act addresses unfair and deceptive business practices such as false advertising. 3. (D) is correct. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 makes illegal every contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade in interstate or foreign commerce. Successful prosecutions have been few because the courts developed a rule of reason stipulating that only unreasonable restraints of trade are illegal. Thus, courts balance the anti-competitive effects against the pro-competitive effects of a restraint of trade. Unless a restraint is unreasonable by its very nature (a per se violation), the rule of reason applies. (A) is incorrect. Many cases have been filed under the Sherman Act; however, the rule of reason has limited the number of successful prosecutions. (B) is incorrect. Numerous companies still engage in anti-competitive conduct. (C) is incorrect. Intent is significant; for example, a company that has a monopoly thrust upon it is not in violation. 4. (B) is correct. The Sherman Act of 1890 makes illegal every contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade in interstate or foreign commerce. Some types of arrangements, called per se violations, are considered unreasonable without inquiry. These violations include price fixing, division of markets, group boycotts, and resale price maintenance. Agreeing to submit identical bids on a government contract is a form of price fixing, a per se violation. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 278
(A) is incorrect. Quantity discounts are not prohibited by the Sherman Act. (C) is incorrect. The Sherman Act does not apply to labor unions. (D) is incorrect. The Sherman Act does not prohibit mergers; only those that could lead to restraint of trade are outlawed. 5. (B) is correct. The Robinson-Patman Act of 1936, an amendment to the Clayton Act, outlaws price discrimination that would lead to restraint of trade. Both buyer and seller can be found guilty of price discrimination under the provisions of the Robinson-Patman Act. Price differentiation between customers is allowed if there is a difference in costs. For instance, quantity discounts are permitted if it can be shown that larger quantities can be shipped with a cost savings. Charging competing wholesalers different prices for similar goods would be a violation of the act. (A) is incorrect. The act does not apply to export sales. (C) is incorrect. Cost differences related to delivery are a justification for charging different prices. (D) is incorrect. The act applies only to sales in interstate commerce. 6. (A) is correct. The Robinson-Patman Act of 1936 amended the Clayton Act with respect to price discrimination. Price discrimination by both buyers and sellers is prohibited in interstate commerce of goods of like grade and quality. The purpose of the act is to protect competition. However, price differentials are allowed if justified by a cost savings to the seller or a good-faith effort to meet a competitor's lawful price. (B) is incorrect. The Celler-Kefauver Act of 1950 prohibits the acquisition of the stock or assets of another business if the effect may be to lessen competition substantially or to create a monopoly. (C) is incorrect. The Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 prohibits unfair methods of competition in or affecting interstate commerce. It also created the Federal Trade Commission, which has authority to enforce the Clayton and Robinson-Patman Acts. The FTC also is authorized to proceed against unfair or deceptive acts or practices. (D) is incorrect. The Sherman Act of 1890 makes illegal every contract, combination, or conspiracy that unreasonably restrains trade in interstate or foreign commerce. It also prohibits monopolization and attempts and conspiracies to monopolize.
APPENDIX
Table 1 Future Value of $1 = T1(i,n) = FVIF Table 2 Future Value of an Annuity of $1 = T2(i,n) = FVIFA Table 3 Present Value of $1 = T3(i,n) = PVIF Table 4 Present Value of an Annuity of $1 = T4(i,n) = PVIFA Table 5 Critical Values for the t-Statistic Table 6 Learning Curve Coefficients
Table 1 Future Value of $1 = T1(i,n) = FVIF
Table 2 FUTURE VALUE OF AN ANNUITY OF $1 = T2(I,N) = FVIFA
TABLE 3 PRESENT VALUE OF $1 = T3(I,N) = PVIF
TABLE 4 PRESENT VALUE OF AN ANNUITY OF $1 = T4(I,N) = PVIFA
TABLE 5
TABLE 6 Learning Curve Coefficients
Glossary ACCOUNTING PROFITS difference between the total revenue and the cost of producing goods or services. ACTIVITY ANALYSIS evaluation involving the determination of the combination of production processes that maximizes output (or profits), subject to the restrictions on the required resources (inputs). ANTI-TRUST POLICY policy encouraging fair and free trade and competition. AVERAGE PRODUCT total amount of output divided by the amount of the input used to produce the output. AVERAGE REVENUE total revenue per unit of output, that is total revenue received divided by output. AVERAGE VARIABLE COST total variable cost divided by the corresponding number of units of output. BAROMETRIC FORECASTING use of economic indicators such as leading indicators to predict turning points in economic activity. BASIC FEASIBLE SOLUTIONS corner point solutions of the feasible region that satisfy all the constraints simultaneously. BLOCK PRICING pricing under which units of a product are sold as one package. BREAK-EVEN POINT level of sales revenue that equals the total of the variable and fixed costs for a given volume of output at a particular capacity use rate. CAPITAL BUDGETING process of making long-term planning and capital expenditure decisions. CAPITAL RATIONING situation that exists when a firm has more acceptable projects than it has funds available to invest. The projects are ranked in priority order. CERTAINTY EQUIVALENT APPROACH approach that converts cash flows from individual projects into risk adjusted certainty equivalent cash flows. CLAYTON ANTITRUST ACT one of three major antitrust laws, passed as an amendment to the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1914. It outlawed price discrimination, tying contracts and exclusive dealerships, and horizontal mergers.
COBB-DOUGLAS PRODUCTION FUNCTION production function that assumes some degree of substitutability among inputs. The relationship between output and the inputs is not linear. COEFFICIENT OF DETERMINATION proportion of the total variation in the dependent variable that is explained by the regression equation. COEFFICIENT OF VARIATION ratio of the standard deviation to the expected value. A relative measure of risk. COMMODITY BUNDLING practice of bundling several different products together and selling them at a single "bundle price." CONSTRAINED OPTIMIZATION optimization with the restrictions imposed on the availability of resources and other requirements. Techniques such as linear programming (LP) and the Lagrangean multipliers are used for this purpose. CONSUMER SURVEYS method that involves interviewing potential customers to estimate demand relations. CORRELATION COEFFICIENT measure of the degree of correlation between the two variables. COST OF CAPITAL rate of return that investors expect to receive from the firm. COST-BASED PRICE widely used pricing technique that involves an appropriate cost base plus the markup--usually calculated as some percentage of the cost base. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS appraisal that attempts to determine whether the favorable results of an alternative are sufficient to justify the cost of taking that alternative. This analysis is widely used in connection with capital expenditure projects in the government sector. CROSS ELASTICITY responsiveness of one product to changes in the price of some other product, holding all other factors constant. CROSS SUBSIDIZATION pricing method in which the firm may enhance profits by selling one product at or below cost and the other product above cost. DECISION TREE graphical method of showing the sequence of possible outcomes. DEMAND CURVE graph of a demand schedule Price is on the vertical axis and quantity demanded is on the horizontal axis.
DEMAND FUNCTION mathematical relationship showing how the quantity demanded of a good or service responds to changes in a number of economic factors such as its own price, the prices of substitutes and complementary goods, income, and advertising. DEMAND SCHEDULE table or tabular representation of the quantity demanded at various possible prices during a given time period, all other things remaining equal. The data from a demand schedule can be used to construct a demand curve. DERIVATIVE instantaneous rate of change of a function at a given point or the slope of its tangent. It is a specification of the marginal relation in economics. DISCOUNTED CASH FLOW (DCF) TECHNIQUES methods of selecting and ranking investment proposals such as the net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) methods where time value of money is taken into account. DURBIN-WATSON STATISTIC summary measure of the amount of autocorrelation (or serial correlation) in the error terms of the regression. ECONOMETRIC MODELS statistically based models where relationships among economic variables are expressed in mathematical equations, single or simultaneous in nature, and then estimated using such techniques as regression methods. ECONOMETRICS branch of economics concerned with empirical testing of economic theory using various statistical methods such as regression analysis. ECONOMIC PROFITS difference between the total revenue and the total opportunity costs. EQUILIBRIUM PRICE price of a commodity (good and service) toward which a competitive market will move and, once there, at which it will remain. EXPANSION PATH graphical device used to illustrate the amount of capital and labor that a firm will use as it expands its operations. EXPECTED UTILITY weighted average of utilities using the probabilities as weights. EXPECTED VALUE weighted average using the probabilities as weights. EXPONENTIAL SMOOTHING forecasting technique that uses a weighted moving average of past data as the basis for a forecast. EXTERNALITIES positive (beneficial) or negative (harmful) effects that market exchanges have on people who do not participate directly in those exchanges. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 289
FIRST DERIVATIVE TEST test to locate one or more extreme (maximum or minimum) points on a function. FOUR-FIRM CONCENTRATION RATIO fraction of total industry sales produced by the four largest firms in the industry. GOODNESS-OF-FIT degree to which a model fits the observed data. HERFINDAHL-HIRSHMAN INDEX sum of the squared market shares. IDENTIFICATION PROBLEM statistical problem encountered in the estimation of the parameters of one function such as the demand function when simultaneous relations exist. INCREMENTAL (DIFFERENTIAL) COSTS costs associated with any managerial decision. This is equivalent to the marginal cost concept but involves multiple changes in output and discrete output choices, rather than a single-unit change. INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS models concerned with the flow of goods among industries in an economy or among branches of a large organization. INTERNAL RATE OF RETURN (IRR) rate earned on a proposal. It is the rate of interest that equates the initial investment with the present value of future cash inflows. ISO-COST CURVE curve or line showing the combinations of any inputs that can be bought with a fixed sum of money. LAGRANGEAN MULTIPLIER measure of the marginal change in the value of the objective function resulting from a one-unit change in the value on the right-hand side of the equality sign in the constraint. LEARNING CURVE EFFECT reduction in labor hours as the cumulative production doubles, ranging typically from 10 percent to 20 percent. LEAST-SQUARES METHOD statistical method in regression analysis aiming at finding a regression line of best fit. LEONTIEF PRODUCTION FUNCTION production function in which inputs are used in fixed proportions. LERNER INDEX measure of the difference between price and marginal cost as a percentage of the product's price.
LINEAR PRODUCTION FUNCTION production function that assumes a perfect linear relationship between all inputs and total output. LINEAR PROGRAMMING (LP) mathematical technique designed to determine an optimal decision (or an optimal plan) chosen from a large number of possible decisions. LINEAR REGRESSION regression that deals with a straight line relationship between variables. LONG RUN AVERAGE COST CURVE curve showing the minimum cost per unit of producing each output when all resource inputs are variable. MARGINAL COST cost of making an additional unit of output. MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS branch of economics, that is economics applied in managerial decision making. MARGINAL ANALYSIS analysis that ensures that for the profit to be maximized, marginal revenues equal marginal costs. MARGINAL PRODUCT change in the quantity of output resulting from a one unit change in the quantity of input used. MARGINAL RATE OF TECHNICAL SUBSTITUTION rate that measures reduction in one input per unit increase in the other that is just sufficient to maintain a constant level of output. MARGINAL REVENUE change of total revenue with respect to quantity demanded. MARGINAL REVENUE PRODUCT net addition to total revenue attributable to the addition of one unit of the variable productive service. MARKET EXPERIMENTATION studies of consumer behavior in actual or simulated market settings. MARKUP ON COST the profit margin expressed as a percentage of unit cost. MEAN SQUARED ERROR (MSE) average sum of the variations between the historical sales data and the forecast values for the corresponding periods. MOVING AVERAGE in a time series an average that is updated as new information is received.
MULTICOLLINEARITY condition that exists when the independent variables are highly correlated with each other. MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS statistical procedure that attempts to assess the relationship between the dependent variable and two or more independent variables. NET PRESENT VALUE METHOD technique widely used for evaluating investment projects. Under the net present value method, the present value (PV) of all cash inflows from the project is compared against the initial investment (I). OPERATING LEVERAGE measure of operating risk; the ratio of a percentage change in operating income to a percentage change in sales volume. OPPORTUNITY COSTS net benefits forgone by rejecting the next-best use of a resource. OPTIMAL EMPLOYMENT RULE profit-maximizing rule that says that the marginal revenue product of an input is exactly equal to the input price. OPTIMAL PRICE typically profit maximizing price. OPTIMIZATION maximization or minimization of a special goal. PARTIAL DERIVATIVE derivative with respect to one variable in question, holding the other variables constant. PEAK LOAD PRICING pricing that charges a higher price during peak times than is charged during off peak times. PENETRATING PRICING pricing policy that involves setting low initial prices in order to gain quick acceptance in a broad portion of the market. PERFECT COMPETITION market structure possessing the following characteristics: (1) large number of small firms; (2) homogeneous products; (3) free entry and exit; and (4) perfect communication between buyers and sellers. PLANNING (ENVELOPE) CURVE locus of points representing the least unit cost of producing the corresponding output. POINT PRICE ELASTICITY ratio of a percentage change in quantity demanded to a percentage change in price.
PRESENT VALUE ANALYSIS technique used widely to account for the timing of cash inflows and outflows. PRIMAL AND DUAL PROBLEMS pair of related maximization and minimization problems in linear programming PRODUCTION FUNCTION engineering relation that defines the maximum amount of output that can be produced with a given set of inputs. PROFIT MAXIMIZATION hypothesis that the goal of a firm is to maximize its profit. PUBLIC GOODS goods that are nonrival and nonexclusionary in consumption and therefore benefit persons other than those who buy the goods. REGRESSION ANALYSIS statistical procedure for estimating mathematically the average relationship between the dependent variable (sales, for example) and one or more independent variables (price and advertising, for example). REGRESSION EQUATION (MODEL) forecasting model which relates the dependent variable (sales, for example) to one or more independent variables (advertising and income, for example). RELEVANT COSTS expected future costs (or revenues) which differ between decision alternatives. RETURNS TO SCALE increase in output arising from a proportionate increase in all inputs. RISK AVERSION displaying a diminishing marginal utility of income or wealth. RISK variability of actual cash flow around the expected cash flows. RISK-ADJUSTED DISCOUNT RATE riskless rate plus a risk premium. ROTHSCHILD INDEX measure of the sensitivity to price of a product group as a whole relative to the sensitivity of the quantity demanded of a single firm to a change in its price. r-SQUARED see coefficient of determination. SECOND DERIVATIVE TEST test to determine whether an extreme point is either a maximum or a minimum point. SHADOW PRICES implicit values or opportunity costs associated with given resources in an LP problem. Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 293
SHERMAN ANTITRUST ACT first law (1890) passed in the U.S. to prohibit a company's attempt to monopolize. SHORT-RUN COST CURVES cost curves for which inputs of production are both variable and fixed. SIMPLE REGRESSION regression analysis which involves one independent variable. SKIMMING PRICING method of pricing that involves setting a high initial price for a new product, with a progressively lowering of the price as time passes, and as the market broaden and matures. STANDARD DEVIATION square root of the mean of the squared deviations from the expected value. An absolute measure of risk. STANDARD ERROR OF THE ESTIMATE standard deviation of the regression. The statistic can be used to gain some idea of the accuracy of our predictions. STANDARD ERROR OF THE REGRESSION COEFFICIENT measure of the amount of sampling error in a regression coefficient. STATISTICAL COST ANALYSIS empirical studies that attempt to ascertain the nature of short-run or long-run cost/output relations. SUNK COSTS costs of resources that have already been incurred at some point in the past whose total will not be affected by any decision made now or in the future. SUPPLY FUNCTION mathematical relationship showing how the quantity supplied of a good or service responds to changes in these factors. THE GRAPHICAL METHOD graphical approach to solving a linear programming (LP) problem. It is easier to use but limited to the LP problems involving two (or at most three) decision variables. THE SIMPLEX METHOD linear programming algorithm, which is an iteration method of computation, to move from one corner point solution to another until it reaches the best solution. TOTAL FIXED COSTS costs that remain constant in total regardless of changes in activity. TOTAL VARIABLE COSTS costs that vary in total in direct proportion to changes in activity.
TREND ANALYSIS statistical procedure for estimating mathematically the average relationship between the dependent variable (sales, for example) and time. Trends are the general upward or downward movements of the average over time. t-TEST test for statistical significance of the regression coefficients. TWO PART PRICING pricing that charge a per unit price that equals marginal cost, plus a fixed fee for the right to buy the good or service. UNIT CONTRIBUTION MARGIN selling price minus average variable cost. VALUE OF THE FIRM present value of the firms expected future cash flows or profits, discounted back to the present at an appropriate interest rate. WELFARE MAXIMIZATION stockholders value maximization, which is a long-term goal. Wealth maximization is generally preferred because it considers (1) wealth for the long term, (2) risk or uncertainty, (3) timing of returns, and (4) the stockholders' return.

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What are the main topics covered in the course?

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What are the learning objectives of the course?

For Business and Strategic Decisions

14.0 Credit Hours 295 pages 13 Chapters 13 Quizzes 1 Online Final

Internal Control and Fraud Detection Page 3

Internal Control and Fraud Detection Page 4

Economic Analysis for Business and Strategic Decisions Page 5

DECISION SCIENCES AND TOOLS

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FV2 .. + FVn 2 n (1 + i) (1 + i) FVt (1+i)

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Cash inflows $40,000 80,000 100,000

1/(1+0.08)n 0.926 0.857 0.794

200 180 160 140 120 100 70 60 50 20

(a) Q = 7 maximizes profits. (b) MR = MC = $70 at Q = 7 units.

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FIGURE 1 GRAPH OF A FUNCTION

FIGURE 2 DEMAND AND SUPPLY FUNCTIONS

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FIGURE 3 MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM POINTS

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FIGURE 1 DEMAND CURVE AND DEMAND SHIFTERS

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FIGURE 2 AVERAGE REVENUE, MARGINAL REVENUE, AND TOTAL REVENUE

classify the price elasticity of demand into three categories:

Price elasticity of demand ep>1 ep=1 ep<1

Degree of elasticity Elastic Unitary Inelastic

Q 400,000 800,000 400,00 0 ---------.1 1.10 x --------1,200,0 00 = -.3.667

% change in Q --------------= % change in P

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FIGURE 3 TWO EXTREME CASES OF PRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND

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FIGURE 4 LINEAR DEMAND CURVE AND NON-CONSTANT PRICE ELASTICITY

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FIGURE 5 TOTAL REVENUE, PRICE ELASTICITY, AND MARGINAL REVENUE

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Differentiating equation (1) with respect to price (P), we obtain