A perfectly competitive firm can produce its current level of output at an average total
cost of $10 and a marginal cost of $8.If the market price of the product is currently $8,
what should the firm do?
a. The firm should definitely shut down since average total cost exceeds price.
b. The answer depends upon the relationship between price and average variable
cost.The firm should shut down if average variable cost is $8 or greater, but the firm
should continue to produce the current level of output if average variable cost is less
than $8.
c. The firm should increase production in order to increase profit.
d. The firm should continue to produce, but they should decrease production in order to
increase profit.
If, at a particular wage rate in a competitive market, the quantity supplied of labor
exceeds the quantity demanded of labor, then
a. the supply curve will shift to the left, the demand curve will shift to the right, and the
surplus of labor will be eliminated.
b. since wages are so high, the quantity supplied of workers will increase further, and
the quantity demanded will decrease further.
c. some workers will begin to accept lower wages and, as a result, employers will begin
to hire more workers.
d. the supply curve will shift to the right, the demand curve will shift to the left, and the
shortage of labor will be eliminated.