MT445 A4

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mt445_u4_assignment.docx

Unit 4

[MT445 | Managerial Economics]

_KULogo.jpgAssignment: Costs and Cost Minimizing Output

In this Assignment, you will analyze fixed and variable costs of a small business. You will also evaluate optimal quantity of output that minimizes costs and maximizes profits.

In this Assignment, you will be assessed on the following outcome:

GEL-1.1: Demonstrate college–level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard American English.

Assignment:

Before answering the following questions, review the Assignment Checklist. Then, in a separate Word document, write a 1–2 page expository research paper answer the following questions based on the rule for minimizing costs of production in regard to a small business plan to minimize costs in order to increase productivity and maximize profits:

1. Pat’s Pizza Restaurant owner incurs various economic costs of production. Explain whether each of the following is an explicit cost or an implicit cost. Which of the two costs should Pat minimize to maximize his account profit?

a) Payments for rented manufacturing equipment.

b) A firm’s use of a warehouse that it owns and could rent to another firm.

c) Wages paid to the firm’s workers.

d) The wages the firm’s owner could earn if he/she worked for another company.

2. Consider the following information in the table for Pat’s Pizza Restaurant and answer the questions below by using the cost minimization rule that takes into account the marginal product per dollar of inputs of production.

Marginal Product of Capital

4,000

Marginal Produce of Labor

100

Wage Rate

$10

Rental Price of Pizza Ovens

$500

e) Is the owner of Pat’s Pizza Restaurant minimizing costs? Explain using the data in the table.

f) Should he rent more ovens and hire fewer workers or rent fewer ovens and hire more workers to increase productivity and lower costs of production? Explain.

3. Consider Pat’s Pizza Restaurant’s production decision in both the short-run and long–run. Pat wants to improve the productivity of the firm in the long run. Explain the types of input costs that might be fixed in the short–run and types of costs that may be variable in the long–run. Provide examples for fixed inputs and variable inputs as well as fixed costs and variable costs for the Restaurant in the short run. What long run economic decisions should Pat make to increase productivity, minimize costs, and maximize profit?

Assignment Checklist:

· This Assignment should be a separate Word document, and 1–2 pages in length, in addition to the title and reference pages.

· It must be written in Standard American English and demonstrate exceptional content, organization, style, and grammar and mechanics.

· Respond to the questions in a thorough manner, providing specific examples where asked.

· Your paper should provide a clearly established and sustained viewpoint and purpose.

· Your writing should be well ordered, logical and unified, as well as original and insightful.

· A separate page at the end of your research paper should contain a list of references, in APA format. Use your textbook, the KU Online Library, and the internet for research.

· Be sure to cite were appropriate and reference all sources. Your sources and content should follow proper APA format. Review the APA formats found in the Kaplan Writing Center. To access the Kaplan Writing Center, select this link .

· Review the grading Rubric to ensure all points have been captured in the paper.

Directions for Submitting your Assignment

Be sure to respond to all the questions using the critical elements listed in the Assignment Checklist. Submit your Assignment in a separate Word document by the end of Unit 4 by clicking the Dropbox tab and selecting Unit 4: Assignment from the dropdown menu, then attach your file. Make sure to save a copy of your work and be sure to confirm that your file uploaded correctly.

Unit 4 Assignment

Content and Analysis

Points Possible

Points Earned

Problem #1

Explain whether each of the following is an explicit cost or an implicit cost. (a–d)

16

Problem #2

Consider the following information in the table for Pat’s Pizza Restaurant and answer the questions below. (a–b)

14

Problem #3

Consider a firm’s production decision in both the short-run and long–run. Explain what type of input costs might be fixed in the short–run and which might be variable in the short–run. Provide one example of each.

10

Writing style, grammar, and APA format.

5

Total

45

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