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Managerial Economics - Farmer Case Study

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See the attached file.

1. It is estimated that the U.S. has over 2 million farmers that are considered potato producers. In an effort to understand the potato market, data on prices and quantities (in millions) of 50 lb. potato bags were obtained and tabulated. The table across contains the results. P Qd Qs
6 300 700
5 400 600
4 500 500
3 600 400
2 700 300

Two farmers were asked to volunteer information that would help evaluate their operating conditions. They provided the following information:
Farmer Smith
Q TC
0 6500
1000 9000
2000 10000
3000 13000
4000 17000
5000 22000
Farmer Brown
Q TC
7000 32400
8000 34400
9000 35400
10000 39400
11000 49400
12000 60400

(i) Determine the market structure of the potato industry.
(ii) Determine the profit maximizing or loss minimizing quantities and prices for each farmer.
(iii) Do you think that these farmers will survive or shut down in the short run?
Show supporting computations and graphs. Farmer Brown's TFC = $2,000.

2. Complete the table below (showing equations used in calculations of missing values) then answer the questions that follow.
Q P ATC TR TC MR MC
1 500 300 500 300 - -
450 900 440 400 140
3 200 1200 160
350 200 800 200
5 300 1500 1150 350

a. Determine the market structure and explain your reason.
b. Determine the optimum quantity this firm should produce and sell. Explain why this particular quantity and at what price.
c. Draw the graph showing the optimum quantity to produce and the price to sell that quantity at.

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Solution Summary

This case study for two potato farmers shows how to calculate costs, revenues and profits, and shows how to determine whether the farmers will curvive or shut down in the short run.

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See the attachment(s).

1. i) There are many small sellers, the product is homogeneous, and there is free entry and exit. The industry is therefore perfectly competitive.
ii) See the attached file "Potato Farms". Each farmer maximizes his profit or minimizes his loss by producing the quantity at which Marginal Revenue (MR) = Marginal Cost (MC). Because this is a perfectly competitive industry, MR = P, ...

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