Refer to Table 11-9. Clock It To Me manufactures clock radios. The table above shows estimates of fixed cost per period and average variable cost for three possible plant sizes.
a. You are employed as the company's cost accountant and have been asked to prepare cost estimates for various output levels for each of the three possible plant sizes. Record your calculations in the table below.
Average Cost of Production
5,000 Clock
Radios 8,000 Clock
Radios 20,000 Clock
Radios
Small plant
Medium plant
Large plant
b. For each of the three output levels, which plant size will generate the lowest average total cost of production?
c. Suppose the firm currently sells 8,000 clock radios per period (using the optimal plant size for this output level). Now, however, it has just secured a long-term contract to supply 20,000 clock radios per period. In the short run, what is the average total cost of producing 20,000 clock radios? Provide a numerical value based on your answer in part a.
d. What happens to average total cost of production in the long run? Provide a numerical value based on your answer in part a.
Question 2
Explain why market power leads to a deadweight loss. Is the total deadweight loss from market power in the United States large or small?
What will be an ideal response?