Economics Short Run Vs Long Run Costs Study Cards

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Short-run Costs

Costs that vary with the level of production in the short term, such as raw materials, labor, and energy expenses.

Long-run Costs

Costs that can be adjusted and changed in the long term, including investments in capital, research and development, and changes in production technology.

Fixed Costs

Costs that do not change with the level of production, such as rent, salaries, and insurance.

Variable Costs

Costs that vary with the level of production, such as raw materials, direct labor, and utilities.

Total Costs

The sum of fixed costs and variable costs, representing the overall expenses incurred in producing a certain quantity of goods or services.

Average Costs

The total costs divided by the quantity of output, indicating the average cost per unit of production.

Marginal Costs

The additional cost incurred by producing one more unit of output, calculated as the change in total costs divided by the change in quantity.

Short-run Production

The production process that involves at least one fixed input, limiting the ability to adjust production levels in response to changes in demand.

Long-run Production

The production process that allows all inputs to be varied, enabling adjustments in production levels to meet changing market conditions.

Economies of Scale

The cost advantages that arise from increased production and efficiency, leading to lower average costs as output expands.

Diseconomies of Scale

The cost disadvantages that occur when a firm becomes too large and experiences inefficiencies, resulting in higher average costs as output increases.

Cost Curves

Graphical representations of the relationship between costs and the quantity of output produced, including the average cost curve, marginal cost curve, and total cost curve.

Profit Maximization

The goal of a firm to maximize its profits by producing at the level of output where marginal revenue equals marginal cost.

Opportunity Costs

The value of the next best alternative forgone when making a decision, representing the potential benefits that could have been obtained from choosing a different option.

Sunk Costs

Costs that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered, regardless of future decisions or actions.

External Costs

Costs imposed on third parties or society as a whole due to the production or consumption of goods or services, not reflected in the market price.

Internal Costs

Costs borne by a firm or individual as a result of their own production or consumption activities.

Explicit Costs

Direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by a firm or individual, such as wages, rent, and materials.

Implicit Costs

Opportunity costs that do not involve direct monetary payments, such as the value of self-owned resources used in production.

Accounting Costs

The explicit costs incurred by a firm, including both fixed and variable costs, as recorded in financial statements.

Economic Costs

The total costs incurred by a firm, including both explicit and implicit costs, taking into account the opportunity costs of resources used.

Short-run vs. Long-run Decision-making

The consideration of different costs and time horizons when making decisions in the short term versus the long term.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

A systematic approach to evaluating the costs and benefits of a decision or project, comparing the expected gains and losses to determine its overall desirability.

Trade-offs

The sacrifices or compromises made when choosing one option over another, as resources are limited and choices have opportunity costs.

Efficiency vs. Effectiveness

Efficiency refers to achieving maximum output with minimum input or resources, while effectiveness focuses on achieving desired goals or outcomes.

Market Structures and Costs

The different types of market structures, such as monopoly, perfect competition, oligopoly, and monopolistic competition, influencing costs and pricing behavior.

Monopoly and Costs

A market structure characterized by a single seller or producer, leading to higher prices and potentially higher costs due to lack of competition.

Perfect Competition and Costs

A market structure with many buyers and sellers, leading to lower prices and potentially lower costs due to intense competition and price-taking behavior.

Oligopoly and Costs

A market structure dominated by a few large firms, leading to interdependence and potential collusion, affecting prices and costs.

Monopolistic Competition and Costs

A market structure with many sellers offering differentiated products, leading to higher prices and potentially higher costs due to product differentiation and advertising expenses.

Government Intervention and Costs

The impact of government policies, regulations, subsidies, and taxes on costs and market outcomes, aiming to correct market failures or promote certain objectives.

Regulation and Costs

Government-imposed rules and restrictions on businesses and industries, influencing costs through compliance requirements and market behavior.

Subsidies and Costs

Financial assistance provided by the government to support specific industries or activities, reducing costs for recipients and potentially affecting market competition.

Taxes and Costs

Government-imposed levies on individuals, businesses, and goods, increasing costs and potentially influencing production decisions and market behavior.

Externalities and Costs

The costs or benefits imposed on third parties or society as a result of economic activities, not accounted for in market transactions and prices.

Public Goods and Costs

Goods or services that are non-excludable and non-rivalrous, leading to challenges in cost recovery and provision due to free-rider problems.

Market Failures and Costs

Situations where markets fail to allocate resources efficiently, resulting in suboptimal outcomes and potential costs to society.

Inflation and Costs

A sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services, eroding purchasing power and potentially affecting production costs and economic stability.

Unemployment and Costs

The state of being without a job or actively seeking employment, leading to lost output, income, and potential social costs.

Economic Growth and Costs

The increase in an economy's production capacity over time, potentially leading to higher resource utilization, productivity, and living standards, but also associated with environmental and social costs.

International Trade and Costs

The exchange of goods and services across national borders, influencing costs through comparative advantage, tariffs, quotas, and trade agreements.

Exchange Rates and Costs

The value of one currency in relation to another, affecting costs and competitiveness in international trade and financial transactions.

Protectionism and Costs

Government policies and measures aimed at restricting imports and promoting domestic industries, potentially leading to higher costs and reduced efficiency.

Globalization and Costs

The increasing interconnectedness and integration of economies and societies worldwide, influencing costs through trade, investment, technology transfer, and cultural exchange.

Environmental Costs

The negative impacts on the environment resulting from economic activities, including pollution, resource depletion, and climate change, leading to potential ecological and social costs.

Sustainability and Costs

The ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, considering economic, environmental, and social costs and benefits.