6. Making dresses is a labor-intensive process. Indeed, the production function of a dressmaking firm is well described by the equation Q = L-1.3/800, where Q denotes the number of dresses per week and L. is the number of labor hours per week. The firm's additional cost of hiring an extra hour of labor is about $20 per hour (wage plus fringe benefits). The firm faces the fixed selling price, P = $40. a. How much labor should the firm employ? What is its resulting output and profit? b. Over the next two years, labor costs are expected to be unchanged, but dress prices are expected to increase to $50. What effect will this have on the firm's optimal output? Explain. Suppose instead that inflation is expected to increase the firm's labor cost and output price by identical (percentage) amounts. What effect would this have on the firm's output?

Microeconomics: Principles & Policy
14th Edition
ISBN:9781337794992
Author:William J. Baumol, Alan S. Blinder, John L. Solow
Publisher:William J. Baumol, Alan S. Blinder, John L. Solow
Chapter7: Production, Inputs, And Cost: Building Blocks For Supply Analysis
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6. Making dresses is a labor-intensive process. Indeed, the production
function of a dressmaking firm is well described by the equation Q =
L-L²/800, where Q denotes the number of dresses per week and Lis
the number of labor hours per week. The firm's additional cost of hiring
an extra hour of labor is about $20 per hour (wage plus fringe benefits).
The firm faces the fixed selling price, P = $40.
a. How much labor should the firm employ? What is its resulting output
and profit?
b. Over the next two years, labor costs are expected to be unchanged,
but dress prices are expected to increase to $50. What effect will this
have on the firm's optimal output? Explain. Suppose instead that
inflation is expected to increase the firm's labor cost and output price
by identical (percentage) amounts. What effect would this have on
the firm's output?
Transcribed Image Text:6. Making dresses is a labor-intensive process. Indeed, the production function of a dressmaking firm is well described by the equation Q = L-L²/800, where Q denotes the number of dresses per week and Lis the number of labor hours per week. The firm's additional cost of hiring an extra hour of labor is about $20 per hour (wage plus fringe benefits). The firm faces the fixed selling price, P = $40. a. How much labor should the firm employ? What is its resulting output and profit? b. Over the next two years, labor costs are expected to be unchanged, but dress prices are expected to increase to $50. What effect will this have on the firm's optimal output? Explain. Suppose instead that inflation is expected to increase the firm's labor cost and output price by identical (percentage) amounts. What effect would this have on the firm's output?
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