COST ANALYSIS

What is cost?
In producing a commodity a firm has to employ an aggregate of various factors of production such as land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship. These factors are to be compensated by the firm for their contribution in producing the commodity. This compensation (factor price) is the cost.

Various concepts of Cost

1. Real Cost 2. Opportunity or Alternative Cost 3. Money Cost Explicit & Implicit Costs 4. Accounting & Economic Costs 5. Fixed and Variable Costs

Cost concepts
6. Production Costs
Total Cost (TC) Total Fixed Cost (TFC) Total Variable Cost (TVC) Average Fixed Cost (AFC) Average Variable Cost (AVC) Average Total Cost (ATC) and Marginal Cost (MC)

Real Cost
The real cost of production refers to the physical quantities of various factors used in producing a commodity. Real cost signifies the aggregate of real productive resources absorbed in the production of a commodity (or a service).

Opportunity Cost
The concept of opportunity cost is based on the scarcity and alternative applicability characteristics of productive resources. The real cost of production of something using a given resource if the benefit forgone (or opportunity lost) of some other thing by not using that resource in its best alternative use. An opportunity cost or alternative cost is the value of a resource in a foregone employment.

Economists Money Costs

Economists wish to include imputed value of all the inputs provided by the producer himself in addition to outright money transactions between the firm and other parties from whom inputs are purchased for carrying out production. Thus money costs in economic terms or Economic cost = explicit or Accounting costs + implicit costs.

Sunk Costs
Sunk cost is a cost once incurred cannot be retrieved. It is associated with commitment of funds to specialized equipment or facilities which cannot be used for anything else in the present or future. E.g.brewery plant during prohibition.

Shutdown Costs
Shut down costs are costs which would be incurred when plan operation is suspended, but would have been saved if the operation was continuing. E.g. costs of sheltering plant and equipment. Construction or hiring of sheds for storing exposed property. Expenses on recruitment and training incurred on re-employment of workers.

Abandonment Costs
Abandonment arises when there is complete cessation of activities and there is a problem of disposal of assets.
E.g.discontinuance of using typewriters and shifting over usage to computers. Shifting to paperless operations.

Replacement and Historical Costs

Historical cost means the cost of a plant at a price originally paid for it. Replacement cost means the price that would have to be paid currently for acquiring the same plant.

Economic Cost
Explicit costs are direct contractual monetary payments incurred through market transactions. Explicit costs are usually costs shown in the accounting statements and include costs of raw materials, wages and salaries, power and fuel, rent, interest payments of capital invested, Insurance, Taxes and duties, Misc. expenses such as selling, transport, advertising & sales promotional expenses.

Economic Cost (contd.)

Implicit costs are the opportunity costs of the use of factors which a firm does not buy or hire but already owns. Implicit costs include
Wages of labour rendered by the entrepreneur himself. Interest on capital supplied by him. Rent of land and premises owned by the entrepreneur and used for production. Normal returns or profits of entrepreneur as compensation for his management and organizational services.

Fixed Costs
Fixed costs are those costs that are incurred as a result of the use of fixed factor inputs. They remain fixed at any level of output. While engaging in productive activity the producer always has to incur some expenditure which remains fixed whatever the level of production.

Fixed Costs
In the short run, fixed costs remain fixed because the firm does not change its size and the amount of fixed factors employed which include:
Payments of rent for building. Interest on capital. Insurance premium Depreciation and Maintenance allowances Adm. Expenses (Managerial & Staff salaries) Property and business taxes, licence fees etc.

Variable Costs
Variable costs are those costs that are incurred by the firm as a result of the use of variable factor inputs. They are dependant on the level of output. The cost which keeps on changing with the changes in the quantity of output produced is known as variable cost.

Variable costs
The short-run variable costs include
Prices of raw materials, Wages paid for labour Fuel and power Excise duties, sales tax, octroi, VAT. Freight (or transportation) charges..

Production Costs
Total Cost (TC) Total Fixed Cost (TFC) Total Variable Cost (TVC) Average Fixed Cost (AFC) Average Variable Cost (AVC) Average Total Cost (ATC) and Marginal Cost (MC)

Theory of Cost in the Short run

Total Cost TC = TFC + TVC Average Fixed Cost AFC = TFC Q Average Variable Cost AVC = TVC Q Average Total Cost ATC = TC Q = TFC/Q + TVC/Q Marginal Cost MC = TC OR TVC Q Q

Short-run Production costs

Figures in rupees

Output (Units) 0 1 2 3 4 6

Total Total Total Cost Fixed Cost Variable Cost 240 0 240 240 120 360 240 160 400 240 180 420 240 212 452 240 280 520

Cost curves
ATC MC AVC

AFC

OUTPUT

Average Fixed Cost, Average Variable Cost and Average Total cost of the Firm Output (Units) 1
2

Average Fixed Cost TFC Q 240 1 = 240

240 2 = 120

Average Average Variable Cost Total Cost TVC Q TC Q 120 1 = 120 360 1 = 360
160 2 = 80 400 2 = 200

3 4 5 6

240 3 = 80 240 4 = 60 240 5 = 48 240 6 = 40

180 3 = 60 420 3 = 140 212 4 = 53 452 4 = 113 280 5 = 56 520 5 = 104 420 6 = 70 660 6 = 110

Calculation of Marginal Cost

Output (units) 0 1 2 3 4 Total Cost (Rupees) 240 360 400 420 452 Total Variable Marginal Cost Cost(Rupees) (Rupees) 0 -120 160 180 212 120 40 20 32

5
6

520
660

280
420

68
140

Output (units) (1) 0 1 2 3

TFC (2) 100 100 100 100

TVC (3) 0 25 40 50

TC (4) 100 125 140 150

AFC (TFC/Q) (5) -100 50 33.3

AVC (TVC/Q) (6) -25 20 16.6

ATC (TC/Q) (7) -125 70 50

MC (8) -25 (125-100) 15(140-125) 10 (150-140)

4
5 6 7

100
100 100 100

60
80 110 150

160
180 210 250

25
20 16.3 14.2

15
16 18.3 21.4

40
36 35 35.7

10(160-150)
22(180-160) 30(210-180) 40(250-210)

8 9

100 100

300 500

400 600

12.5 11.1

37.5 55.6

50 66.7

150(400-250) 200(600-400)

Output (units) (1) 0 1 2 3

TFC (2) 100 100 100 100

TVC (3) 0 25 40 50

TC (4) 100 125 140 150

AFC (TFC/Q) (5) -100 50 33.3

AVC (TVC/Q) (6) -25 20 16.6

ATC (TC/Q) (7) -125 70 50

MC (8) -25 (125-100) 15(140-125) 10 (150-140)

4
5 6 7

100
100 100 100

60
80 110 150

160
180 210 250

25
20 16.3 14.2

15
16 18.3 21.4

40
36 35 35.7

10(160-150)
22(180-160) 30(210-180) 40(250-210)

8 9

100 100

300 500

400 600

12.5 11.1

37.5 55.6

50 66.7

150(400-250) 200(600-400)

Problem: Based on your knowledge of the various measures of short run cost, complete the following table.
Output (units) TFC TVC TC AFC (TFC/Q) AVC (TVC/Q) ATC (TC/Q) MC

(1)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(2)
---------------

(3)
----204 ----525 ---

(4)
1200

(5)
X

(6)
X

(7)
X 1265

(8)
X

494 86

286

7
8

-----

--768

97

---

---

97

Problem: Based on your knowledge of the various measures of short run cost, complete the following table.
Output (units) TFC TVC TC AFC (TFC/Q) AVC (TVC/Q) ATC (TC/Q) MC

(1)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(2)
1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200

(3)
0 265 204 283 369 525 580

(4)
1200 1265 1404 1483 1569 1725 1780

(5)
X 1200 600 400 300 240 200

(6)
X 265 102 94 92 105 96

(7)
X 1265 702 494 392 345 286

(8)
X 265 139 79 86 156 65

7
8

1200
1200

679
768

1879
1968

171
150

97
96

239
246

99
89

1200

873

2073

133

97

230

105

Output (units) (1) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

TFC (2) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

TVC (3) 0 25 40 50 60 80 110 150 300 500

TC (4) 100 125 140 150 160 180 210 250 400 600

AFC (TFC/Q) (5) -100 50 33.3 25 20 16.3 14.2 12.5 11.1

AVC (TVC/Q) (6) -25 20 16.6 15 16 18.3 21.4 37.5 55.6

ATC (TC/Q) (7) -125 70 50 40 36 35 35.7 50 66.7

MC (8) -25 (125-100) 15(140-125) 10 (150-140) 10(160-150) 22(180-160) 30(210-180) 40(250-210) 150(400-250) 200(600-400)

Relationship between Marginal Cost and Average Cost

1. When Average Cost is minimum, Marginal cost is equal to Average Cost. MC curve intersects at the minimum point of ATC curve. 2. When MC curve is below AC curve, marginal cost is less than average cost, and the latter falls. 3.When the MC curve is above AC curve, marginal cost is more than average cost, the latter rises.

MARGINAL COST AND AVERAGE COST LINES

MC AC
A B C O L M N N P

OUTPUT

Esimation of Cost Functions

Relationship between cost and output is expressed by cost function.
TC = f(Q) TC = Total Cost Q = Quantity of output

Three variants of Short-run Cost function 1.Linear Cost function

1. Linear function: TC = (TFC + TVC) a + bQ (TFC) (AVCxQ) TVC a/Q + b

ATC = TC/Q = TFC/Q + TVC/Q = TC=a + bQ MC = dTC = b dQ Illustration: TFC TC = 100 + 0.5Q (Q=10) TFC = 100 ; TVC = 0.5Q output At Q = 10, TVC = 0.5 x 10 = 5 and TC = 100 + 5 = 105 ATC = a/Q + b = 100/10 + 0.5 = 10.5 MC = b = 0.5

Explanation of Linear Cost function

The firm has fixed costs which must be met irrespective of the quantity of output produced. This is represented by a in the equation TC=a+bQ The firm must pay proportional amount for rawmaterials, labour and other inputs, which is the TVC represented by bQ in the equation. The equation for Total Cost = Total Fixed Cost + Total Variable Cost Will thus be given as TC = a + bQ. At Zero output TC = a + bxo = a =TFC Average Total Cost = TC Output Q = a/Q + b Average Fixed Cost = a/Q and Average variable cost = b Since in the shortrun, TFC is the same irrespective of output, all increases (differentials) in cost due to increase (differentials) in output will be the Marginal Cost MC = b

Quadratic Cost Function

TC=a + bQ + cQ2

TC = a + bQ + cQ2
ATC = a/Q + b + cQ MC = b + 2cQ
TFC

output Here, the firm has Fixed Costs Rs.5000 and Variable costs for (labour, raw materials etc.) to produce Q units are 250Q + 3Q2 Firms initial cost of producing Q units is 250Q Additional units can be produced at increased cost due to shortage of raw materials and other inputs (their price being higher) ups their price by +3Q2 which is the last variable.

Implications of the Quadratic equation: a + bQ + cQ2

1. If Q = 0, TC = a = TFC 2. Number of bends in the Graph is 1, Number of bends = 1 less than highest exponent.(Q2) . ATC = TC/Q = a/Q + b + cQ AFC = a/Q, therefore, AVC = b + cQ MC = b + 2cQ (by differentiation) When Q = 0 MC = AVC = b

There can be another type of Quadratic Equation TC = a + bQ cQ2 Here cQ2 represents reduction in costs on account of increased productivity. The TC curve will rise at a decreasing rate.
TC = a + bQ -- cQ2

TFC

output

Problem: ABC Ltd.estimates its total cost Rs.Y of manufacturing X units of electronic gauges per month as Y = 8000 + 300X + 0.1X2 (i) Calculate the average cost of producing 200 gauges per month. (ii) If the company doubles this output, will it halve its average cost? (iii)If not, what will be its average cost be? (iv) How much is the average variable cost of producing 200 units per month? (v)What will be the average variable cost if no units are Produced? (vi) What will be the marginal cost function of the company?

Cubic Cost Functions

Cubic type of function will be TC = a + bQ + cQ2 + dQ3 Here the highest exponent is 3. Hence one less than 3 bends will be there in the cost curve. This function combines both increasing and decreasing productivity or TC=a + bQ + cQ2 +dQ3 returns. Increasing Decreasing Productivity Productivity

TFC output

(i)Total cost of producing 200 gauges Y = 8000 + 300X + 0.1X2 = 8000 + 300(200) + 0.1(200)2 = 8000 + 60000 + 0.1(40000) = 8000 + 60000 + 4000 = 72000 Rs.72000 (ii) Doubling the output, X = 400 Y = 8000 + 300X + 0.1X2 = 8000 + 300(400) + 0.1(400)2 = 8000 + 120000 + 0.1(160000) = 8000 + 120000 + 16000 = 144000 Rs.1,44,000. (iii)Average cost of producing 200 units Y = 8000 + 300 + 0.1(200) X 200 = 40 + 300 + 20 = 360. Rs.360

(iv) Average cost of producing 400 units Y = 8000 + 300 + 0.1(400) X 400 = 20 + 300 + 40 = 360 Rs.360 The average cost has not been halved. The reduction in fixed cost has been offset by increase in AVC. (v)Average variable cost of producing 200 units per month is AVC = b + cX = 300 + 0.1(200) = 300 + 20 = Rs.320 If no units are produced, X really does not exist. So no question of AC. (vi)MC = 300 + 0.2X