Normal profit is a situation where a firm makes sufficient revenue to cover its total costs and remain competitive in an industry. In measuring normal profit, we include the opportunity cost of working elsewhere. When a firm makes normal profit we say the economic profit is zero. Normal profit = total revenue – total costs …
Readers question: What are the functions of government in a capitalist economy? In summary, the economic functions of a government include: Protection of private property and maintaining law and order / national defence. Raising taxes. Providing public services not provided in a free market (e.g. health care, education, street lighting) Limit market failure through the …
Definition – A mixed economy means that part of the economy is left to the free market, and part of it is managed by the government. Mixed economies start from the basis of allowing private enterprise to run most businesses. Then the governments intervene in certain areas of the economy, such as providing public services …
A look at the pros and cons of mergers. Are mergers in the public interest or are mergers just beneficial for top executives and shareholders?
Capitalism is an economic system dominated by free markets and private ownership of wealth, assets and business. Within the broad church of capitalism, there are different forms – from unregulated ‘Turbo-capitalism’ to ‘responsible or ‘social welfare capitalism.’ In practice, all ‘capitalist economies have a degree of government intervention. Turbo Capitalism This refers to an unregulated …
An assumption in classical economics is that firms seek to maximise profits. Profit = Total Revenue (TR) – Total Costs (TC). Therefore, profit maximisation occurs at the biggest gap between total revenue and total costs. A firm can maximise profits if it produces at an output where marginal revenue (MR) = marginal cost (MC) Diagram …
The main objectives of firms are: Profit maximisation Sales maximisation Increased market share/market dominance Social/environmental concerns Profit satisficing Co-operatives Business Objectives of firmsWatch this video on YouTube Sometimes there is an overlap of objectives. For example, seeking to increase market share, may lead to lower profits in the short-term, but enable profit maximisation in the …
Definition of efficiency Efficiency is concerned with the optimal production and distribution of scarce resources. Different types of efficiency Productive – producing for the lowest cost. Allocative – distributing resources according to consumer preference P=MC Dynamic – Efficiency over time. X-efficiency – incentives to cut costs. Efficiency of scale – taking advantage of economies of …