Tobacco production is one of the more heavily subsidized industries in the United
States. Suppose that as a result of intense lobbying from health-related concerns,
Congress repeals the tobacco firms’ subsidies. Which of the following scenarios would
likely occur?
a. The tobacco firms’ supply curve would shift rightward, as it would now be cheaper to
produce each level of output.
b. The tobacco firms’ supply curve would shift leftward, since it would now cost more
to produce each level of output.
c. The tobacco firms would not experience any shift in their supply curves; subsidies
don’t affect output.
d. There would be a movement along the supply curve for tobacco, but the supply curve
would not shift.
At 100 units of output, total cost is $22,000 and total variable cost is $14,000. At 100
units of output, what is the value of average total cost, average variable cost, and
average fixed cost, respectively?
a. $22; $14; $8
b. $220; $140; $80
c. $740; $340; $400
d. $340; $740; $60
e. $400; $340: There is not enough information provided to determine the average fixed
cost.