Question

Difficulty: MediumLong-Run Costs and Production

An agro-processing enterprise expands its production facility in the long run by increasing all of its input factors by 30%30\%. Consequently, its monthly output of processed cassava flour increases from 800 bags800\text{ bags} to 1,104 bags1,104\text{ bags}. What is the percentage increase in total output resulting from this scale expansion?

Answer: 38 %

Answer

The percentage increase in total output is 38%.
The absolute increase in output is 1,104800=304 bags1,104 - 800 = 304\text{ bags}. Expressing this increase as a percentage of the base output gives 304800×100=38%\frac{304}{800} \times 100 = 38\%. Because the output increase (38%38\%) exceeds the input increase (30%30\%), the firm experiences increasing returns to scale.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Find the absolute change in total output.
Change in output = 1,104800=304 bags1,104 - 800 = 304\text{ bags}.
To calculate a percentage change, the absolute difference between final and initial quantities must first be established.
2
Divide the change in output by the initial output and express as a percentage.
Percentage increase = (304800)×100=38%\left(\frac{304}{800}\right) \times 100 = 38\%.
Percentage change measures the relative expansion of output relative to the original baseline quantity.

Key Concept

Calculating Percentage Change in Output for Returns to Scale Analysis
Rate this question