Google
Tuesday 
March 28, 2023 

AmosWEB means Economics with a Touch of Whimsy!

AmosWEBWEB*pediaGLOSS*aramaECON*worldCLASS*portalQUIZ*tasticPED GuideXtra CrediteTutorA*PLS
OAS: (Organization of American States ) In 1948, 21 nations of the hemisphere met in Bogota, Colombia, to adopt the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS). Since then, the OAS has expanded to include the nations of the Caribbean, as well as Canada. Currently, all 35 independent countries of the Americas have ratified the OAS Charter and belong to the Organization. Cuba remains a member, but its government has been excluded from participation in the OAS since 1962. The OAS is the region's premier political forum for multilateral dialogue and action. Among OAS' major goals they work for strengthening freedom of speech and thought as a basic human right, promoting greater participation by civil society in decision-making at all levels of government, improving cooperation to address the problem of illegal drugs and supporting the process to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas.

Visit the GLOSS*arama


LOSS MINIMIZATION RULE:

A rule stating that a firm minimizes economic loss by producing output in the short run that equates marginal revenue and marginal cost if price is less than average total cost but greater than average variable cost. This is one of three short-run production alternatives facing a firm. The other two are profit maximization (if price exceeds average total cost) and shutdown (if price is less than average variable cost).
Production Alternatives
Price and CostResult
P > ATCProfit Maximization
ATC > P > AVCLoss Minimization
P < AVCShutdown
The loss minimization rule applies to a firm that is incurring a short-run economic loss that is less than total fixed cost. This occurs if the price received is less than average total cost, but greater than average variable cost. It is not an absolute rule so much as it is an alternative that any profit maximizing firm is inclined to pursue given production cost and market conditions.

Loss minimization is one of three short-run production alternatives facing a firm. All three are displayed in the table presented here. The other two are profit maximization and shutdown.

  • With profit maximization, price exceeds average total cost at the quantity that equates marginal revenue and marginal cost. In this case, the firm generates an economic profit.

  • With shutdown, price is less than average variable cost at the quantity that equates marginal revenue and marginal cost. In this case, the firm incurs a smaller loss by producing no output and incurring a loss equal to total fixed cost.
In the short run, a firm incurs total fixed cost whether or not it produces any output. As such, if the market price falls below average total cost, it must decide if the economic loss from producing the quantity of output that equates marginal revenue and marginal cost is more or less than the economic loss incurred with shutting down production in the short run (which is equal to total fixed cost).

Incurring a Loss
Incurring a Loss
The key criterion for this decision is price relative to average variable cost.

  • If price is greater than average variable cost, a firm receives sufficient revenue to pay ALL variable cost plus some fixed cost. As such, the economic loss is less than total fixed cost. A firm is better off producing the quantity that equates marginal revenue and marginal cost than producing no output, receiving no revenue, and incurring a loss equal to total fixed cost.

  • If price is less than average variable cost, a firm does not receive enough revenue to pay variable cost let alone any part of fixed cost. As such, the economic loss of operating is greater than total fixed cost. A firm is better off shutting down production in the short run, producing zero output, and awaiting a higher price.
The exhibit here illustrates the loss minimizing situation that exists for a hypothetical perfectly competitive firm, Phil the zucchini-growing gardener. The going market price (marginal revenue) of $2.60 per pound of zucchinis received by Phil intersects the marginal cost curve between the average total cost curve and the average variable cost curve.

Because price falls short of average total cost, Phil incurs a loss. However, because price exceeds average variable cost, Phil incurs a smaller loss by producing 6.25 pounds of zucchinis than by shutting down production.

<= LONG-RUN TREND


Recommended Citation:

LOSS MINIMIZATION RULE, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2023. [Accessed: March 28, 2023].


Check Out These Related Terms...

     | shutdown rule | profit maximization | breakeven output | short-run production alternatives |


Or For A Little Background...

     | average variable cost | marginal cost | marginal revenue | average total cost | total fixed cost | average revenue | economic profit | U-shaped cost curves | profit |


And For Further Study...

     | perfect competition, profit maximization | perfect competition, loss minimization | perfect competition, shutdown | perfect competition, short-run supply curve | perfect competition, demand | perfect competition, short-run production analysis | perfect competition, long-run production analysis | perfect competition, efficiency | perfect competition, total analysis | perfect competition, marginal analysis | perfect competition, profit analysis | long run industry supply curve |


Search Again?

Back to the WEB*pedia


APLS

WHITE GULLIBON
[What's This?]

Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time browsing through a long list of dot com websites wanting to buy either a weathervane with a chicken on top or a flower arrangement with daisies and carnations for your uncle. Be on the lookout for rusty deck screws.
Your Complete Scope

This isn't me! What am I?

The first paper notes printed in the United States were in denominations of 1 cent, 5 cents, 25 cents, and 50 cents.
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

WLS
Weighted Least Squares
A PEDestrian's Guide
Xtra Credit
Tell us what you think about AmosWEB. Like what you see? Have suggestions for improvements? Let us know. Click the User Feedback link.

User Feedback



| AmosWEB | WEB*pedia | GLOSS*arama | ECON*world | CLASS*portal | QUIZ*tastic | PED Guide | Xtra Credit | eTutor | A*PLS |
| About Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Statement |

Thanks for visiting AmosWEB
Copyright ©2000-2023 AmosWEB*LLC
Send comments or questions to: WebMaster