Theory of Cost

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CHAPTER FIVE THEORY OF COSTS
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Ebele Stella Nwokoye Nneamaka Ilechukwu

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Principles of Economics 1
CHAPTER FIVE
THEORY OF COSTS
Nwokoye, Ebele Stella & Ilechukwu, Nneamaka Ifeoma
5.1 INTRODUCTION
What is Cost?
To an economist, the cost of producing any good or service is its

opportunity cost. In everyday living, all man-made choices have
alternatives. Therefore the opportunity cost of obtaining a commodity is the
foregone utility which could have been derived from the forgone
alternatives.
Cost is best described as a sacrifice made in order to get something. In

business, cost is usually a monetary valuation of all efforts, materials,
resources, time and utilities consumed, risk incurred and opportunities
forgone in production and delivery of goods and services. More explicitly,
the costs attached to resources that a firm uses to produce its product are
divided into explicit costs and implicit costs. All expenses are costs but not
all costs are expenses. Those costs incurred in the acquisition of income-
generating assets are not considered as expenses. The theory of costs is
better categorized under the traditional and modern theory of cost.
The objectives of this chapter are to
a. Define correctly the following concepts: total, average and marginal

costs.
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b. Differentiate between the following: accounting and economic costs, real

and nominal cost, private and social cost, sunk and incremental cost.
c. Appreciate the necessity of proper identification of costs in business
decision-making.
d. Illustrate the total, average and marginal cost curves for both the short
run and the long run scenario.
e. Elucidate on the determinants of each of internal and external economics
of scale.
f. Appreciate the reasons for the L-shape of the long run average cost
curve.
5.2 TYPES OF COSTS
Costs can be categorized into seven types:
1) Accounting and economic costs: To an accountant or any other

individual other than an economist, cost refers to the monetary expenses
incurred by a firm in the course of producing a commodity. Accounting cost
(money or explicit) is the total monetary expenses incurred by a firm in
producing a commodity and this is what an entrepreneur takes into
consideration in making payments for various items including factors of
production (wages and salaries of labour), purchase of raw materials,
expenditures on machine, including on capital goods, rents on buildings,
interest on capital borrowed, expenditure on power, light, fuel,
advertisement, etc. Money costs are known also as explicit costs that an
accountant records in the firm's books of account. Explicit costs are the
payments to outside suppliers of inputs.
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To the economists, the cost of any good or service is the totality of all
sacrifices made to bring the good or service into existence. Therefore, the
“economic cost” (opportunity cost of production) is made up of both the
explicit and the implicit cost. Implicit cost, are the imputed value of the
entrepreneur’s own resources and services. According to Salvatore,
“implicit costs are the value of owned inputs used by the firm in its
production process”. These include the salary of the owner-manager who is
content with having normal profits but does not receive any salary, the
estimated rent of the building (if it belongs to the entrepreneur), etc. While
explicit cost is monetarily valued, implicit cost is the forgone alternative or
opportunity cost which the accounting cost didn't take note of.
2) Production cost: In the production process, many fixed and variable

factors (inputs) usually capital equipments are used. They are being
employed at various prices. The expenditures incurred on them are the
total costs of production of a firm. Such costs are divided into two: total
variable cost and total fixed costs.
3) Real costs: It tells us what lies behind money cost, since money cost
are expenses of production from the point of view of the producer. Thus,
according to Marshall, the efforts and sacrifices made by various members
of the society in producing a commodity are the real costs of production.
The efforts and sacrifices made by business men to save and invest,
workers foregoing leisure, and by the landlords in the use of land, all these
constitute real cost.
4) Opportunity cost: This is the cost of the resources foregone, in

order to get or obtain another. The opportunity cost of anything is the next
best alternative that could be produced instead by the same factors or by
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an equivalent group of factors, costing the same amount of money. E.g. the
real cost of labour is what it could get in some alternative employment.
Opportunity cost includes both explicit and implicit cost.
5) Private and social cost: Private costs are the costs incurred by a
firm in producing a commodity or service. It includes both implicit and
explicit cost. However, the production activities of a firm may lead to
economic benefit or harm for others. For instance, production of
commodities like steel, rubber and chemical pollute the environment which
leads to social costs. The society suffers some inconveniences as a result
of the production exercise embarked upon by the firm.
6) Sunk costs: This refers to all the costs that have been incurred and
definitely not recoverable or changeable whether the particular project or
business goes on or not. For instance, if a road project already
commissioned is abandoned or not, the money has already been spent and
there is no way of recovering it. This cost is undiscoverable if not
considered in economic decision making.
7) Incremental cost: This is the change in cost owing to a new

decision. For example, a firm may decide to buy its equipment instead of
leasing it and because of this the expenditure made in the production
process will alter. If cost increases because of the change, the incremental
cost will be positive. If the new decision does not alter the overall cost,
then, the incremental cost will be negative.
5.2 COST FUNCTIONS
Cost functions are derived functions. They are derived from the
production function which describes the available efficient methods of
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production at any given period of time. Cost function expresses a functional

relationship between total cost and factors that determine it. Usually, the
factors that determine total cost of production (C) of a firm are the output
(Q), level of technology (T), the prices of factors (Pf), and the fixed factors
(K). Economic theory distinguishes between short-run costs and long-run
costs.
The short run is a period in the production process, which is too short
for a firm to vary all its factors of production. Short-run costs are the cost
over a period during which some factors of production (usually capital
equipment and management) are fixed. It is the cost at which the firm
operates in any one period, where one or more factors of production are in
fixed quantity. On the other hand, the long-run costs are costs over a
period long enough to permit a change in all factors of production. The
long-run costs are planning costs or ex ante costs, in that they present the
optimal possibilities for expansion of the output and thus help the
entrepreneurs to plan their future activities. In the long-run, there are no
fixed factors of production and hence, no fixed costs. In the long-run, all
factors are variable, all costs are also variable.
Symbolically, we may write the long-run cost function as:
C = f (Q,T,Pf,)
and short-run cost function as;
C = f (Q,T,Pf,K)
Where C is total cost, Q is output, T is technology, Pf is prices of factor

inputs, and K is fixed factors of production.
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Graphically, costs are shown on two-dimensional diagrams. Such

curves imply that cost is a function of output, i.e. C = f(Q), ceteris paribus.
The clause ceteris paribus implies that all other factors which determine
costs are held constant. If these factors do change, their effect on costs is
shown graphically by a shift of the cost curve. This is the reason why
determinants of cost, other than output, are called shift factors.
Mathematically, there is no difference between the various determinants of
costs. The distinction between movements along the cost curve (when
output changes) and shifts of the curve (when the other determinants
change) is convenient only pedagogically, because it allows the use of two-
dimensional diagrams. But it can be misleading when studying the
determinants of costs. It is important to remember that if the cost curve
shifts, this does not imply that the cost function is indeterminate.
The factor technology is itself a multidimensional factor, determined

by the physical quantities of factor inputs, the quality of the factor inputs,
the efficiency of the entrepreneur, both in organizing the physical side of
the production (technical efficiency of the entrepreneur), and in making the
correct economic choice of techniques (economic efficiency of the
entrepreneur). Thus any change in these determinants (e.g. the
introduction of a better method of organization of production, the
application of an educational programme to the existing labour) will shift the
production function, and hence will result in a shift of the cost curve.
Similarly, the improvement of raw materials, or the improvement in the use
of some raw materials will lead to a shift of the cost function.
5.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS OF THE COST- FUNCTION
In order to simplify the cost-analysis, certain assumptions are made:
149
1. Firms produce a single homogeneous good (X) with the help of

certain factors of production.
2. Some of these factors are employed in fixed quantities, whatever the

level of output of the firm in the short-run. So they are assumed to be given.
3. The remaining factors are variable whose supply is assumed to be

known and available at fixed market prices.
4. The technology which is used for the production of the good is

assumed to be known and fixed.
5. It is also assumed that the firm adjusts the employment of variable

factors in such a manner that a given output(X) of the good 'X' is obtained
at the minimum total cost, C.
Given the cost functions, we discuss the traditional and modern theories of
costs.
5.3 TRADITIONAL THEORY OF COSTS
The traditional theory of costs analyses the behaviour of cost curves in the
short-run and long-run and arrives at the conclusion that both the short-run
and long-run cost curves are U-shaped but the long-run cost curves are
flatter than short-run cost curves.
5.3.1 SHORT-RUN COSTS OF THE TRADITIONAL THEORY
In the traditional theory of the firm, in the short run, there are variable inputs
and at least one fixed input. This suggests that short run costs are divided
into fixed costs and variable costs. Thus, there are three concepts of total
cost in the short run: Total fixed costs (TFC), total variable costs (TVC),
and total costs (TC).
TC = TFC + TVC
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1. Total Fixed Cost: These are costs of production that do not change
(vary) with the level of output, and they are incurred whether the firm is
producing or not. They are independent of the level of output and it is the
sum of all costs incurred by the firm for fixed inputs, and it is always the
same at any level of output. It includes; (a) salaries of administrative staff
(b) depreciation (wear and tear) of machinery (c) expenses for building
depreciation and repairs (d) expenses for land maintenance and
depreciation (if any). Another element that may be treated in the same way
as fixed costs is the normal profit, which a lump sum including a
percentage return on is fixed capital and allowance for risk.
Total Fixed Cost (TFC) is graphically denoted by a straight line parallel to

the output axis.
Figure 5.1: Total Fixed Cost
TFC
Cos ts
0 Output Q
2. Total Variable Cost: These are costs of production that change

directly with output. They rise when output increases and fall when output
declines. They include (a) the raw materials (b) the cost of direct labour (c)
the running expenses of fixed capital, such as fuel, ordinary repairs and
routine maintenance. It is the total cost incurred by the firm for variable
inputs.
TVC = f (Q) 1
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In the traditional theory of the firm, the total variable cost (TVC) has an
inverse-S-shape, graphically shown below, and it reflects the law of
variable proportions.
Figure 5.2: Total Variable Cost
TVC
Costs
0 Output Q
3. Total Cost: The firm's short run total cost is the sum of the total fixed
cost (TFC) and total variable cost (TVC) at any given level of output. Total
cost also varies with the level of the firm's output.
TC = TFC + TVC 2
TC = f(Q) 3
From Equation 2, it follows that:
TFC = TC - TVC 4
TVC = TC - TFC 5
According to the law of variable proportions, at the initial stage of

production with a given plant, as more of the variable factor(s) is employed;
its productivity increases and the average variable cost fall. This continues
until the optimal combination of the fixed and variable factors is reached.
Beyond this point, as increased quantities of the variable factor(s) are
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combined with the fixed factor(s) the productivity of the variable factor(s)
decline (and the AVC rises). By adding the TFC and TVC we obtain the TC
of the firm.
Figure 5.3: Total Cost

TC
TVC
Costs
TFC
0 Output Q
5.3.2 OTHER COST CONCEPTS
From the Total-Cost curves we obtain Average-Cost curves.
a. Average Fixed Cost (AFC): The AFC at any given level of output is
total fixed cost divided by output. In symbol, this becomes:
TFC
AFC  >0 6
Q
Graphically, the AFC is a rectangular hyperbola, showing at all its
points the same magnitude, that is, the level of TFC.
Figure 5.4: Average Fixed Cost

Costs
AFC 153
0 Output Q
b. Average Variable Cost (AVC): The average variable cost at any

given level of output is total variable cost divided by output. In symbol, it
becomes:
TVC ………………………..7
AVC 
Q
The SAVC curve falls initially as the productivity of the variable factor(s)
increases, reaches a minimum when the plant is operated optimally (with
optimal combination of fixed and variable factors), and rises beyond that
point, due to law of diminishing returns.
Thus, the SAVC curve is therefore U-shaped as seen below:
Figure 5.5: Short-run Average variable Cost

SAVC
a
b d
c
Costs
0 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q
c. Average Total Cost (ATC): In the short-run analysis, average cost is

more important than total cost. The units of output that a firm produces do
not cost the same to the firm, but must be sold at the same price.
154
Therefore, the firm must know the per-unit cost or the average cost. Thus,
the short-run average cost of a firm is the average fixed costs, the average
variable cost and average total costs. The short run average total cost
(SAC) at any given output level is obtained by simply dividing total cost by
the output level:
STC
SAC  .................... .......... .........8
Q
Since STC  TFC  TVC
TFC  TVC
Then, SAC 
Q
TFC TVC
SAC  
Q Q
SAC  AFC  AVC.....................9
Graphically, the ATC curve is derived in the same way as the SAVC. The
shape of the ATC is similar to that of AVC (both being U-shaped). Initially,
the ATC declines, it reaches a minimum at the optimal operation of the
plant (Qm) and subsequently rises again, as seen in Figure 5.6.
Figure 5.6: short-run Average Total cost
SATC
A1
B1 L
m
Costs
0 Q1 Q2 Qm QL Q
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From Equation 9 we know that the SAC can be alternatively defined as the
sum of AFC and AVC. Therefore,
AFC = SAC - AVC 10
and
AVC = SAC – AFC 11
The U-shape of both the AVC and the ATC reflects the law of variable
proportions or law of diminishing returns to the variable factor(s) of
production.
d. Short run Marginal Cost (SMC): Marginal Cost is the addition to

total cost resulting from the production of an additional unit of output. The
short-run marginal cost is defined as a change in total cost (TC) which
results from a unit change in output. Mathematically, the Marginal Cost is
the first derivative of the TC function. Marginal Cost is the addition to Total
Cost by producing an additional unit of output.
Therefore, if
However, to derive the marginal cost from a total cost function, we

find the derivative of total cost (TC) with respect to output (Q):
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Graphically, the MC is the slope of the TC curve (which of course is

the same at any point as the slope of the TVC). The slope of a curve at any
one of its points is the slope of the tangent at that point.
Figure 5.7: Short-run Marginal Cost SMC

SMC
Costs
0 Qa Q
Thus, the SMC curve is also U-shaped, as seen above. Therefore, the
traditional theory of costs postulates that in the short-run, the costs curves
(AVC, ATC and MC) are U-shaped reflecting the law of variable
proportions. In the short-run with a fixed plant there is a phase of increasing
productivity (falling unit costs) and the phase of decreasing productivity
(increasing unit costs) of the variable factor(s). Between these two phases
of plant operation there is a single point at which unit costs are at a
minimum. When this point on the SATC is reached the plant is utilized
optimally, that is, with optimal combination (proportions) of fixed and
variable factors.
157
5.3.3 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SHORT-RUN COST CURVES.
The data on Table 5.1 gives a short run cost schedules for a
hypothetical firm.
Table 5.1: Short run cost schedules for a firm (hypothetical data)
Output TFC TVC TC (d) AFC(e) AVC (f) SAC SMC

Output TFC TVC TC AFC AVC SAC SMC
per
per (b)( N) (c)(N) (N)
(N) ( N) ( N) (g)(N) (h)(N)
week (N)
week (N) b ¸a
(N) c¸a
(N) d ¸a Dd ¸Da
(a)(a) (b) ( c) (d) (e) (f) (g)
(N) (g)
(N)
0 2000 0 2000 0 0 0 0
100 2000 800 2800 20 8.0 28.0 8.0
260 2000 1600 3600 7.7 6.2 13.8 5.0
400 2000 2400 4400 5.0 6.0 11.0 5.7
520 2000 3000 5000 3.8 5.8 9.6 6.7
620 2000 3800 5800 3.2 6.1 9.4 8.0
680 2000 4600 6600 2.9 6.8 9.7 13.3
720 2000 5400 7400 2.8 7.5 10.3 20.0
750 2000 6000 8000 2.7 8.0 10.7 26.7
760 2000 6800 8800 2.6 8.9 11.6 80.0
760 2000 7600 9600 2.6 10.0 12.6 ¥
Note that in some cases, the AFC, and AVC do not add up exactly to the
SAC. This is due to the fact that figures are rounded up. Table 5.1 reveals
two important information which must be emphasized; to give an insight
into management strategies for profit maximization, or loss minimization.
a.) When output is zero, TFC and TC are equal to each other. This
implies that a firm incurs a loss which is equal to the TFC if nothing is
158
produced after the firm's plant has been installed. Such a loss will likely
be in terms of rent on factory building, if not owned by the firm, interest on
money borrowed from the bank, and wear and tear (depreciation) of fixed
assets as a result of being neglected or exposed to unfavorable weather
conditions.
b.) Average fixed cost (AFC) falls as output (Q) is increased. This occurs
because TFC is the same at any level of output. Therefore, the larger the
output level, the more these overhead costs are spread out.
5.3.4 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATC AND AVC
The AVC is a part of the ATC, given
ATC = AFC + AVC.
Both AVC and ATC are U-shaped, reflecting the law of variable
proportions. However, the minimum point of the ATC occurs to the right of
the minimum point of AVC in the figures above due to the fact that ATC
includes AFC and the AVC falls continuously with increases in output. After
AVC has reached its lowest point and starts rising, its rises is over a certain
range, set off by the fall in the AFC, so that ATC continues to fall (over that
range) despite the increase in AVC. Thus, the rise in AVC eventually
becomes greater than the fall in the AFC so that the ATC starts increasing.
The AVC approaches the ATC asymptotically as X increases.
In Figure 5.8b, the minimum AVC is reached at Q1 while the ATC is

at its minimum at Q2. Between Q1 and Q2 the fall in AFC more than offsets
the rise in AVC so that the ATC continues to fall. Beyond Q2 the increase
in AVC is not offset by the fall in AFC so that ATC rises.
159
5.3.5 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MC AND ATC
The MC cuts the ATC and the AVC at their lowest points. Recall that
MC is the change in Total Cost (TC)
Fig. 5.8a: Firm’s Total Costs in -the Short-run Fig. 5.8b: Firm’sAverage andMarginal Costs inthe Short-run
SMC
SAC
SAVC
Costs
Costs
AFC
0 Output Q 0 Q1 Q2 output
for producing an extra unit of output. Assume that we start from a level of n
units of output. If we increase the output by one unit the MC is the change
in TC resulting from the production of the (n+1)th unit.
The AC at each level of output is found by dividing TC by Q.
Thus, the AC at the level of Qn is
ACn= TCn ……………………………….15

Qn
and the AC at the level Qn+1 is
ACn+1= TCn + 1 ……………………………16
Qn + 1
Clearly,
TCn+1=TCn+MC…………….………………….17
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Thus, if the MC of (n+1)th unit is less than ACn (i.e. the AC of the previous
'n' units) the ACn+1 will be smaller than ACn. If the MC of the (n+1)th is
higher than the ACn, the ACn+1 will be higher than ACn.
Thus, so long as the MC lies below the AC curve, it pulls the latter
(AC curve) downwards; when the MC rises above the AC, it pulls the AC
upwards, as in Figure 5.8b.
Both the inverse S-shape of the total cost curves and the U-shape of
the average and marginal cost curves in the short-run reflect the law of
diminishing returns (law of variable proportions). For instance, over the
range of output from the origin to Q1 in Figure 5.8b, productivity per unit of
variable factor increases as more of the variable factor is applied to a given
quantity of the fixed factor. The AVC falls and reaches its minimum at Q1.
Beyond Q1, as increased quantities of the variable factor are combined with
a given quantity of fixed factors, the output per unit of the variable factor
declines and the AVC rises. Note that, the TC and the TVC curves in
Figure 5.8a have the same shape, since they differ by only a constant
amount.
5.3.6 LONG-RUN COSTS OF THE TRADITIONAL THEORY: THE
“ENVELOPE” CURVE
In the Long-run, there are no fixed factors of production, hence all

factors are assumed to be variable. Hence, the concepts of fixed and
variable factors are not applicable. It follows therefore that: Where LAC is
the long-run average cost, LTC is the long-run total cost, and Q is the level
of output. Note that the long-run cost curve is a planning curve, as a guide
161
to the entrepreneur in his decision to plan the future expansion of his

output. Similarly, if LMC stands for long-run marginal cost, LTC for long-run
total cost, and Q for output, we can define LMC as the relationship between
long-run total cost, average cost, and marginal cost are illustrated in
Figures 5.9a and 5.9b.
Figure 5.9a: Long-run Total Costs curve for a firm Figure5.9b: FirmsL-ong-runAverageandMarginalCostscurves
LMC
LTC
LAC
Costs
Cos ts
0 o utput Q 0 output Q
The long-run total cost shows the relationship between the total cost of a
firm and its level of output when all inputs are variable, so that it is possible
for the firm to produce each level of output with the optimal combination of
inputs. The long-run average cost, or cost per unit of output is obtained as
total cost divided by quantity of output. The long-run marginal cost is equal
to the change in long-run total cost divided by the change in quantity of
output.
5.3.7 THE LONG-RUN AVERAGE COST CURVE
In the long-run, it is technically possible for the firm to build a plant of

any size according to its desires because all factors of production are
variable. The long-run average cost curve (LAC) shows variation in the
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firm's unit cost of production as it alters its plant size. But once a firm has
installed a particular plant, it goes back to the short-run situation. The long-
run average cost (LAC) curve of the firm shows the minimum average cost
of producing various levels of output from all possible short-run average
curves (SAC). Thus, the LAC curve is derived from short-run cost curves.
Each point on the LAC corresponds to a point on a short-run cost curve,
which is tangent to the LAC at the point. Let's examine in details how the
LAC is derived from the SRC curves. Assuming the available technology of
the firm at a particular point of time includes three methods of production,
each with a different plant size; a small plant, medium plant and large plant.
The small plant operates with costs denoted by the curve SAC1, the
medium size plant operates with the costs on SAC2 and the large-size plant
gives rise to costs shown on SAC3.
Figure 5.10: Long-run Average Cost
C1 SAC1
SAC2 LAC
C1 '
SAC 3
C 2'
C2
C3
0 Q1 Q'1 Q''1 Q2 Q 2'' Q 3
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If the firm plans to produce output Q1 it will choose the small plant. If
it plans to produce Q2 it will choose the medium plant. If it chooses to
produce Q3 it will choose the large size plant. If the firm starts with the small
plant and its demand gradually increases, it will produce at lower cost.
Beyond that point costs start increasing. If its demand reaches level Q''1,
the firm can either continue to produce with the small plant or it can install
the medium size plant. The decision at this point depends not on costs but
on the firm's expectations about its future demand. If the firm expects that
the demand will expand further than Q'', it will install the medium plant
because with this, plant outputs larger than Q''1 are produced with a lower
cost. Similar considerations hold for the decision of the firm when it reaches
the level Q2''. If it expects its demand to stay constant at this level, the firm
will not install the large plant, given that it involves a larger investment
which is profitable only if demand expands beyond Q2''. For example, the
level of output Q3 is produced at a cost C3 with the larger plant, while it
costs C'2 is produced with the medium size plant (C'2 C3).
If we relax the assumptions of the existence of only three plants and

assume that the available technology includes many plant sizes, each
suitable for a certain level of output, the points of intersection of
consecutive plants (which are the crucial points for the decision of whether
to switch to a larger plant) are more numerous. If we assume that there are
a very large number of plants, we obtain a continuous curve, which is the
planning LAC curve of the firm. The LAC Curve is a locus of points
denoting the least cost of producing the corresponding output. It is a
planning curve because on the basis of this curve the firm decides what
plant to setup in order to produce optimally (at minimum cost) the expected
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level of output. The firm chooses the short-run plant which allows it to
produce the anticipated (in the long-run) output at the least possible cost. In
the traditional theory of firm, the LAC Curve is U-shaped and it is often
called the “envelope curve” because it envelops the SAC Curves as seen
on Figure 5.11.
Figure 5.11: The Envelope Curve
LAC
0 Qm
5.4 ECONOMIES AND DISECONOMIES OF SCALE
Economies of scale refer to the cost savings made possible as plant

size increases. A firm is said to achieve economies of scale if its long-run
average costs decline as it increases the size of its plant. On the other
hand, diseconomies of scale refer to the higher unit costs the firm incurs as
a result of setting up a larger plant.
Examining the U-shape of the LAC, this shape reflects the law of
returns to scale. According to the law, the unit costs of production
decreases as plant size increases, due to the economies of scale which the
165
larger plant sizes make possible. The traditional theory of firm assumes
that economies of scale exist only up to a certain size of plant, which is
known as the optimal plant size because with this plant size all possible
economies of scale are fully exploited. If the plant increases further than
this optimal size there are diseconomies of scale, arising from managerial
inefficiencies.
Figure 5.12: Economies and Diseconomies of Scale

Cost (N)
Diseconomies of Scale
Economies of Scale
0 Optimal plant size Q
5.4.1 INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ECONOMIES OF SCALE
Economies of scale can be internal or external. Internal economies

are those cost savings that accrue directly to the firm by increasing its
output level (or its plant size). Four main types of internal economies are
often discussed:
a.) Technical economies: In the mass-producing industries, there is

intensive use of machinery giving rise to technical economies because
overhead costs are spread over a larger output. Furthermore, a large firm is
166
able to support its own research and development programme. Since the
production process is highly fragmentized, it is easy to invent and introduce
cost-reducing machines and equipments to perform simple production
tasks.
b.) Managerial economies: Cost-savings advantages are derived from

specialization of labour. In a large firm, specialists are employed, each
concentrating on a relatively small fraction of the total work according to
their skills and abilities. Each worker becomes more proficient at his or her
job thus increasing productivity and lowering unit cost of production.
c.) Financial economies: Large firms can easily obtain loans at lower
rates of interest than small firms because they can provide collateral
security. Hence, they are considered less risky customers than small firms.
The rate of interest charged by banks to those firms regarded as best credit
risks is called prime lending rate.
d.) Marketing economies: A large firm buys its raw materials in bulk
and obtain discount. Eventually, the large firm pays lower prices than the
small firms. A large firm can also promote its sales through advertising
thereby spreading the selling costs over a large output, i.e. the larger the
output, the smaller the advertising cost per unit of output.
On the other hand, external economies of scale are cost savings

benefits derived when firms in the same or similar industry are
concentrated in a particular area. Such costs benefits are called
“economies due to localization of industries”.
The serious implicit assumption of the traditional U-shaped cost curve is

that each plant size is designed to produce optimally a single level of
output. There is no reserve capacity, not even to meet seasonal variations
167
in demand. As a consequence on this assumption the LAC curves

'envelopes' the SRAC, each point of the LAC is a point of tangency with the
corresponding SRAC Curve. At the falling part of the LAC, the plants are
not worked to full capacity; to the rising part of the LAC the plants are
overworked, only at the minimum point M is the plant optimally employed.
5.4.2 THE OPTIMALITY IMPLIED BY THE LAC PLANNING CURVE
Each point on the LAC Curve represents the least unit cost for producing
the corresponding level of output. Any point above the LAC is inefficient in
that it shows a higher cost for producing the corresponding level of output.
Any point below the LAC is economically desirable because it implies a
lower-unit cost, but it is not attainable in the current state of technology and
with the prevailing market prices of factors of production.
The long-run marginal cost curve is derived from the SRMC Curve,
but does not 'envelop' them. The LRMC is formed from points of
interception of the SRMC Curves with vertical lines (to the X-axis).
The LAC curve falls or rises more slowly than the SAC Curve
because in the long-run, all costs become variable and few are fixed. The
plant and equipment can be worked fully and more efficiently so that both
the AFC and AVC are lower in the long-run than in the short-run. As a
result of this the LAC curve becomes flatter than the SAC curve. Also, the
LMC curve is flatter than the SMC curve because, all costs are variable and
there are few fixed costs. In the short-run, the market cost is related to both
the fixed and variable costs.
168
As a result, the SMC curve falls and rises more swiftly than the LAC
curve. The LMC curve bears the usual relation to the LAC curve. It first falls
and is below the LAC, then, it rises, and cuts the LAC curve at its lowest
point E, and is above the latter throughout its length as shown in Figure
5.13.
Figure 5.13: Long-run Optimality

LMC
LAC
E
Cost
0 m output
5.5 MODERN THEORY OF COST
The modern theory of cost differs from the traditional theory of costs
with regards to the shapes of the cost curves. The U-shaped cost curves of
the traditional theory have been questioned by various writers both on
theoretical, a priori, and on empirical grounds.
As early as 1939, George Stigler suggested that the short-run

average variable cost has a flat stretch over a range of output which
reflects the fact that firms build plant with some flexibility in their productive
capacity. The reasons for this reserve capacity have been discussed in
169
detail by various economists. The shape of the long run cost curve has
attracted greater attention in economic literature, due to the serious policy
implication of the economies of large scale production. Several reasons
have been put forward to explain why the long-run cost curve is L-shaped
rather than U-shaped. It has been argued that managerial diseconomies
can be avoided by the improved methods of modern management science,
and when they appear (at a very large scale of output) they are insignificant
relative to the technical (production) economies of large plants, so that the
total costs per unit of output falls, at least over the scales which have been
operated in the real industrial world. Like the traditional theory, modern
microeconomics distinguishes between short run and long run costs.
5.5.1 SHORT-RUN COSTS CURVES
As in the traditional theory, short-run costs in the modern theory of

costs are distinguished into short-run average fixed cost (AFC), short-run
average variable cost (SAVC), short-run average cost (SAC), and short-run
marginal cost curves (SMC). As usual, they are derived from the total cost
which is divided into fixed cost and total variable cost. But in the modern
theory, the SAVC and SMC curves have a saucer-type shape or bowl-
shape rather than a U-shape. As the AFC curve is a rectangular hyperbola,
the SAC curve has a U-shape even in the modern theory
5.5.2 THE AVERAGE FIXED COST
This is the cost of indirect factors; it is the cost of the physical and
personal organizations of the firm. The fixed cost include cost for (a)
170
salaries and other expenses of administrative staff (b) salaries of staff

involved directly in production but paid on a fixed term basis (c.) the wear
and tear of machinery (standard depreciation allowance (d.) the expenses
for maintenance of buildings (e.) the expenses for the maintenance of land
on which the plant is installed and operated.
The planning of the plant (or the firm) consists of deciding the size of
the fixed and indirect factors which determine the size of the plant, because
they set limits to its production capacity. Direct factors such as labour and
raw materials are assumed not to set limit on size; the firm can acquire
them easily from the market without any time lag. The business man will
start his planning with a figure for the level of output which he anticipates
selling, and he will choose the size of plant which allows him to produce
this level of output more efficiently, and with the maximum flexibility, the
business man will want to be able to meet seasonal and cyclical
fluctuations in his demand.
Reserve capacity will give the business man greater flexibility for
repairs of broken down machinery without disrupting the smooth flow of the
production process. The entrepreneur will want to have more freedom to
increase his output if demand increases. All businessmen hope for growth.
In view of anticipated increase in demand, the entrepreneur builds some
reserve capacity because he would not like to let all new demand go to his
rivals as this may endanger his future hold in the market. It also gives him
some flexibility for minor alterations of his product, in view of changing
tastes of customers.
Technology usually makes it necessary to build into the plant some

reserve capacity. Some basic types of machinery (e.g. a turbine) may not
171
be technically fully employed when combined with other small types of

machines in certain numbers. More of which may not be required, given the
specific size of the chosen plant. Furthermore, some machinery may be so
specialized as to be available only on order, which takes time. In this case,
such machinery will be bought in excess of the minimum requirement at
present numbers, as a reserve. Some reserve capacity will always be
allowed in the land and buildings, since expansion of operations may be
seriously limited if new land or new buildings have to be acquired. Finally,
there will be some reserve capacity on the organizational and
administrative level. The administrative staff will be hired at such numbers
as to allow some increase in the operations of the firm.
Figure 5.14: Average Fixed Cost Curve
C A B
b
0 QA QB Q
In summary, the businessman will not necessarily choose the plant which
will give him the lowest cost, but rather, that equipment which will allow him
the greatest possible flexibility for minor alterations of his product or his
technique of production.
172
Under these conditions, the AFC curve will be as in Figure 5.14. The
firm has some “largest capacity” units of machinery which set an absolute
limit to the short-run expansion of output (boundary B). The firm also has
small-unit machinery, which sets a limit to expansion (boundary A). This,
however, is not an absolute boundary because the firm can increase its
output in the short-run (until the absolute limit B is reached), either by
paying overtime to direct labour for working longer hours (here the AFC is
shown by the dotted line), or by buying some additional small unit type of
machinery here the AFC curve shifts upwards, and starts falling again, as
shown on line ab).
5.5.3 THE AVERAGE VARIABLE COST
As in the traditional theory, the average variable cost of modern

microeconomics includes the cost of: a.) direct labour which varies with
output; b.) raw materials; c.) running expenses of machinery.
The short-run average cost curve (SAVC) in modern theory has a

saucer-type shape, that is, it is broadly U-shaped but has a flat stretch over
a range of output. The flat stretch corresponds to the built-in plant reserve
capacity. Over this stretch, the SAVC is equal to the MC both being
constant per unit of output. To the left of the flat stretch, MC lies below the
SAVC, while to the right of the flat stretch the MC rises above the SAVC.
The falling part of the SAVC shows the reduction in cost due to the better
utilization of the fixed factor and the consequent increase in skills and
productivity of the variable factor (labour). With better skills, the wastes in
raw materials are also being reduced and a better utilization of the whole
plant is reached.
173
Figure 5.15: SAVC curve
SAVC
MC
MC
SAVC=MC
0 Q
The increasing part of the SAVC reflects reduction in labour productivity

due to the longer hours of work, the increase in cost of labour due to
overtime payment (which is higher than the current wage), the wastes in
material and the more frequent breakdown of machinery as the firm
operates with overtime or with more shifts. The innovation of modern
microeconomics in this field is the theoretical establishment of a short-run
SAVC curve with a flat stretch over a certain range of output. The reserve
capacity makes it possible to have constant SAVC within a certain range of
output as shown in Figure 5.15. It should be clear that this reserve capacity
is planned in order to give the maximum flexibility in the operation of the
firm. It is completely different from the excess capacity which arises with
the U-shaped average cost curve of the traditional theory of the firm. The
traditional theory assumes that each plant is designed without any
flexibility, as such; if the firm produces an output Q, smaller than Qm, there
is excess (unplanned) capacity, equal to the difference Qm-Q. This excess
capacity is obviously undesirable because it leads to higher unit costs.
174
Figure 5.16a: Excess Capacity Figure 5.16b: Reserve Capacity
C
SAVC SAVC
C
Excess capacity Reserve capacity
0 Q Qm Q 0 Q1 Q2 Q
In the modern theory of costs, the range of output Q1Q2 in Figure 5.16b
reflects the planned capacity which does not lead to increased costs.
5.5.4: THE AVERAGE TOTAL COST
The average total cost is obtained by fixed (inclusive of the normal

profit) and the average variable cost at each level of output. The ATC
curves fall continuously up to the level of output (Q2) at which the reserve
capacity is exhausted. Beyond that level, ATC will start rising. The MC will
intersect the ATC Curve at its minimum point (which occurs to the right of
the level of output QA, at which the flat stretch of the AVC ends).
Figure 5.17: Short-run Cost Curves
SATC
MC SAVC
MC
AFC175
0 QA
5.5.5 LONG-RUN COSTS IN MODERN MICROECONOMIC THEORY
All costs are variable in the long run and they give rise to a long run
cost curve which is roughly L-shaped. Empirical evidence about the long
run average cost curve reveals that the LAC curve is L-shaped rather than
U-shaped. In the beginning, the LAC curve rapidly falls but after a point,
“the curve remains flat, or may slope gently downwards, at its right-hand
end”. Production cost fall continuously with increases in output. At very
large scales of output, managerial costs may rise. But the fall in production
costs more than offsets the increase in the managerial costs, so that the
total LAC falls with increases in scale. Economists have assigned the
following reasons for the L-shape of the LAC curve.
1. Production and Managerial costs: In the long-run, all costs being

variable, production costs and managerial costs of a firm are taken into
account when considering the effect of expansion of output on average
costs. As output increases, production costs fall continuously while
managerial cost may rise at very large scales of output. But the fall in
production costs outweighs the increase in managerial costs so that the
LAC curve falls with increases in output. We analyze the behaviour of
production and managerial costs in explaining the L-Shaped of the LAC
Curve.
a. Production Costs: As a firm increases its scale of production, costs

fell steeply in the beginning and then gradually. This is due to the technical
economies of large scale production enjoyed by the firm. Initially, these
economies are substantial, but after a certain level of output, when all or
most of these economies have been achieved, the firm reaches the
minimal optimal scale or minimum efficient scale (MES). Given the
176
technology of the industry, the firm can continue to enjoy some technical
economies at outputs larger than the MES for the following reasons.
(a) From further decentralization and improvement in skills and

productivity of labour.
(b) From lower repair costs after the firm reaches a certain size; and
(c) By itself producing some of the materials and equipment cheaply

which the firm needs instead of buying them from other firms.
b. Managerial Costs: In modern firms, for each plant there is a

corresponding managerial set-up for its smooth operation. There are
various levels of management, each having a separate management
technique applicable to a certain range of output. Thus, given a managerial
setup for a plant, its managerial costs first fall with the expansion of output
and it is only at a very large scale of output, they rise very slowly.
In summary, production costs fall smoothly at very large scales, while

managerial costs may rise slowly at very large scales of output. But the fall
in production costs more than offsets the rise in managerial costs so that
the LAC curve falls smoothly or becomes flat at very large scales of output,
thereby giving rise to the L-shape of the LAC curve. In order to draw such
an LAC curve, we take three short-run average cost curves SAC1, SAC2,
and SAC3 representing three plants with the same technology.
177
Figure 5.18: The LAC curve
SAC 1
Cost
A
SAC 2
SAC3
B
LAC
C
Output
Each SAC curve includes production costs, managerial costs, other

fixed costs and a margin for normal profits. Each scale of plant (SAC) is
subject to a typical load factor capacity so that points A, B and C represent
the minimal optimal scale of output of each plant. By joining all such points
as A, B and C of a large number of SACs, we trace out a smooth and
continuous LAC curve, as shown in Figure 5.19.
Figure 5.19: LAC Curve

Cos t
LAC1
C
1
C1
M LAC3
C2 LAC2
LAC
C3 N
0 Q1 Q2 Q3 Output
178
This curve does not turn up at very large scales of output. It does not
envelope the SAC curves but intersects them at the optimal level of output
of each plant.
2. Technical progress: Another reason for the existence of the L-

shaped LAC curve in the modern theory of costs is technical progress. The
traditional theory of costs assumes no technical progress while explaining
the U-shaped LAC curve. The empirical results on long-run costs confirm
the widespread existence of economies of scale due to technical progress
in firms. The period, between which technical progress has taken place, the
long-run average costs show a falling trend. The evidence on diseconomies
is much less certain. So an upturn of the LAC at the top end of the size
scale has not been observed. The L-shape of the LAC curve due to
technical progress is explained in Figure 5.19.
Suppose the firm is producing 0Q1 output on LAC1 curve at per unit
cost of 0C1 output on LAC1 curve at a per unit cost of 0C1. If there is an
increase in demand for the firm's product to 0Q2, with no change in
technology, the firm will produce 0Q2 output along the LAC1 curve at per
unit cost of 0C'. If, however, there is technical progress in the firm, it will
install a new plant having LAC2 as the long-run average cost curve. On this
plant, it produces 0Q2 output at a lower cost 0C2 per unit. Similarly, if the
firm decides to increase its output to 0Q3 to meet further rise in demand,
technical progress may have advanced to such a level that it installs the
plant with the LAC3 curve. Now it produces 0Q3 output at a still lower cost
0C3 per unit. If the minimum points, L, M and N of these U-shaped long-run
average cost curves LAC1, LAC2 and LAC3 are joined by a line, it forms an
L-shaped gently sloping downward curve LAC.
179
3. Learning: Yet another reason for the L-shaped long-run average cost
curve is the learning process. Learning is the product of experience. If
experience in this context can be measured by the amount of a commodity
produced, then higher the production is, the lower it is per unit cost. The
consequences of learning are similar to increasing returns. First, the
knowledge gained from working on a large scale cannot be forgotten.
Second, learning increases the rate of productivity. Third, experience is
measured by the aggregate output produced since the firm first started to
produce the product. Learning by doing has been observed when firm
starts producing new products. After they have produced the first unit, they
are able to reduce the time required for production and thus reduce per unit
cost.
Figure 5.20: The Learning Curve

Cost
Learning
Curve
M LAC
Output
Figure 5.20 shows a learning curve (LAC) which relates the cost of
producing a given output to the total output over the entire time period.
Growing experience with making the product leads to falling costs as more
and more of it is produced. When the firm has exploited all learning
180
possibilities, costs reach a minimum level, M in the figure. Thus the LAC
curve is L-shaped due to learning by doing.
5.5.6 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAC AND LMC CURVES
In the modern theory of costs, if the LAC curve falls smoothly and
continuously even at very large scales of output, the LMC curve will lie
below the LAC curve throughout its length, as shown in the Figure 5.21.
Figure 5.21: LAC and LMC Curves

Cost
Learning
Curve
LAC
LMC
Output
If the LAC curve is downward sloping up to the point of a minimum

optimal scale of plant or a minimum efficient scale (MES) of plant beyond
which no further scale economies exist, the LAC curve becomes horizontal.
In this case, the LMC curve lies below the LAC curve until the MES point M
is reached, and beyond this point the LMC curve coincides with the LAC
curve, as shown in Figure 5.22.
181
Figure 5.22: Relationship between LAC and LMC Curves
C
LAC
M LAC=LMC
LMC
0 Q
5.5.7 CONCLUSION
The majority of empirical cost studies suggest that the U-shaped cost
curves postulated by the traditional theory are not observed in the real
world. Two major results emerge predominantly from most studies. First,
the SAVC and SMC curves are constant over a wide-range of output.
Second, the LAC curve falls sharply over low levels of output, and
subsequently remains practically constant as the scale of output increases.
This means that the LAC curve is L-shaped rather than U-shaped. Only in
very few cases diseconomies of scale were observed, and these at very
high levels of output.
Revision Questions
1. Define correctly the following concepts: total, average and marginal

costs.
182
2. What are the basic difference(s) between the following types of costs:
accounting and economic costs, real and nominal cost, private and
social cost, sunk and incremental cost?
3. Why is it necessary to properly identify the costs associated with
specified business ventures?
4. Illustrate the total, average and marginal cost curves for both the
short run and the long run scenario.
5. What are the determinants of each of internal and external economics
of scale?
6. Proffer two major reasons for the L-shape of the long run average
cost curve.
References
Agu, C.C. (2009). Principles of economics. Nigeria: Immaculate

Publication Limited Enugu.
Begg, D., Fischer, S., and Dornbusch, R. (2000). Economics, 6th ed.
England: McGraw Hill.
Black, J. (2002). Oxford dictionary of economics 2nd ed. Oxford: University
Press.
Dwivedi, D.N. (2003). Microeconomics theory. New Delhi: Pearson
Education.
Ekanem, O.T. and Iyoha, M.A. (2000). Microeconomic theory. Nigeria:
Maresh Publishers Benin City.
Ezeaku, L.C., Nwokoye, E.S., and Ezeaku, C. (2009). Microeconomics,
2nd ed. Nigeria: J’Goshen Publishing Company Awka.
Jhingan, M. L. (1997). Modern microeconomics. New Delhi: Vrinda
Publications (P) Ltd.
Jhigan, M.L. (2009). Principle of economics, 3rd ed. New Delhi: Vrinda
Publication Ltd.
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View publication stats
Koutsoyiannis, A. (1979). Modern microeconomics, 2nd ed. Macmillan

Press Limited.
Lipsey, R. and Chrystal, K.A. (1999). Principles of economics, 9th ed.
USA: Oxford University Press.
Mankiw, N.G. and Taylor, M.P. (2011). Economics 2nd Ed. South-
Western Cengage Learning
McConnell, C.R. and Brue, S.L. (2005). Economics 16th ed. New York:
McGraw Hill Company.
Parkin, M.S., Powell, M., and Mathew, K. (1998). Economics. England:
Pearson Education Limited Harlow.
Salvatore, D. (2011). Microeconomics: Schaum's outlines. New York:
McGraw Hill.
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CHAPTER FIVE THEORY OF COSTS

Chapter · August 2018

Ebele Stella Nwokoye Nneamaka Ilechukwu

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Nwokoye, Ebele Stella & Ilechukwu, Nneamaka Ifeoma

To an economist, the cost of producing any good or service is its

Cost is best described as a sacrifice made in order to get something. In

The objectives of this chapter are to

a. Define correctly the following concepts: total, average and marginal

b. Differentiate between the following: accounting and economic costs, real

5.2 TYPES OF COSTS

Costs can be categorized into seven types:

1) Accounting and economic costs: To an accountant or any other

2) Production cost: In the production process, many fixed and variable

4) Opportunity cost: This is the cost of the resources foregone, in

7) Incremental cost: This is the change in cost owing to a new

5.2 COST FUNCTIONS

production at any given period of time. Cost function expresses a functional

Symbolically, we may write the long-run cost function as:

and short-run cost function as;

Where C is total cost, Q is output, T is technology, Pf is prices of factor

Graphically, costs are shown on two-dimensional diagrams. Such

The factor technology is itself a multidimensional factor, determined

5.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS OF THE COST- FUNCTION

In order to simplify the cost-analysis, certain assumptions are made:

1. Firms produce a single homogeneous good (X) with the help of

2. Some of these factors are employed in fixed quantities, whatever the

3. The remaining factors are variable whose supply is assumed to be

4. The technology which is used for the production of the good is

5. It is also assumed that the firm adjusts the employment of variable

5.3 TRADITIONAL THEORY OF COSTS

5.3.1 SHORT-RUN COSTS OF THE TRADITIONAL THEORY

Total Fixed Cost (TFC) is graphically denoted by a straight line parallel to

Figure 5.1: Total Fixed Cost

2. Total Variable Cost: These are costs of production that change

Figure 5.2: Total Variable Cost

From Equation 2, it follows that:

According to the law of variable proportions, at the initial stage of

Figure 5.3: Total Cost

5.3.2 OTHER COST CONCEPTS

From the Total-Cost curves we obtain Average-Cost curves.

Figure 5.4: Average Fixed Cost

b. Average Variable Cost (AVC): The average variable cost at any

Thus, the SAVC curve is therefore U-shaped as seen below:

Figure 5.5: Short-run Average variable Cost

c. Average Total Cost (ATC): In the short-run analysis, average cost is

SAC  AFC  AVC.....................9

Figure 5.6: short-run Average Total cost

AFC = SAC - AVC 10

AVC = SAC – AFC 11

d. Short run Marginal Cost (SMC): Marginal Cost is the addition to

However, to derive the marginal cost from a total cost function, we

Graphically, the MC is the slope of the TC curve (which of course is

Figure 5.7: Short-run Marginal Cost SMC

5.3.3 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SHORT-RUN COST CURVES.

Output TFC TVC TC (d) AFC(e) AVC (f) SAC SMC

5.3.4 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATC AND AVC