3. Theo employs labor at a competitive wage (W) of $3 per unit, and he employs capital at a competitive rental rate (R) of $6 per unit. a. State the cost-minimizing rule. You must provide both a written statement of it, and state it as an equation. b. At Theo’s current combination of labor and capital, the marginal product of labor (MPL) is twice as large as the marginal product of capital (MPK). Is Theo currently employing the optimal ratio of labor and capital? If not, how should he adjust his hiring of labor and/or capital? Explain.

Exploring Economics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781544336329
Author:Robert L. Sexton
Publisher:Robert L. Sexton
Chapter11: The Firm: Production And Costs
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 5P
icon
Related questions
Question

3. Theo employs labor at a competitive wage (W) of $3 per unit, and he employs capital
at a competitive rental rate (R) of $6 per unit.
a. State the cost-minimizing rule. You must provide both a written statement of it, and state it as an
equation.
b. At Theo’s current combination of labor and capital, the marginal product of labor (MPL) is twice
as large as the marginal product of capital (MPK). Is Theo currently employing the optimal ratio of
labor and capital? If not, how should he adjust his hiring of labor and/or capital? Explain.

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Marginal Product
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Recommended textbooks for you
Exploring Economics
Exploring Economics
Economics
ISBN:
9781544336329
Author:
Robert L. Sexton
Publisher:
SAGE Publications, Inc
Microeconomics A Contemporary Intro
Microeconomics A Contemporary Intro
Economics
ISBN:
9781285635101
Author:
MCEACHERN
Publisher:
Cengage
ECON MICRO
ECON MICRO
Economics
ISBN:
9781337000536
Author:
William A. McEachern
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Microeconomic Theory
Microeconomic Theory
Economics
ISBN:
9781337517942
Author:
NICHOLSON
Publisher:
Cengage
Microeconomics: Principles & Policy
Microeconomics: Principles & Policy
Economics
ISBN:
9781337794992
Author:
William J. Baumol, Alan S. Blinder, John L. Solow
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Economics: Private and Public Choice (MindTap Cou…
Economics: Private and Public Choice (MindTap Cou…
Economics
ISBN:
9781305506725
Author:
James D. Gwartney, Richard L. Stroup, Russell S. Sobel, David A. Macpherson
Publisher:
Cengage Learning