Do firms really calculate marginal cost and marginal revenue to find the profit-maximizing output? If you examine the accounting records of most small businesses, you will be hard pressed to find explicit calculations of marginal cost and marginal revenue. So, why do economists develop rather elaborate, formal models of profit maximization when no one seems to do what we say they do?

Microeconomics: Principles & Policy
14th Edition
ISBN:9781337794992
Author:William J. Baumol, Alan S. Blinder, John L. Solow
Publisher:William J. Baumol, Alan S. Blinder, John L. Solow
Chapter8: Output, Price, And Profit: The Importance Of Marginal Analysis
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 3TY
icon
Related questions
Question

Do firms really calculate marginal cost and marginal revenue to find the profit-maximizing output? If you examine the accounting records of most small businesses, you will be hard pressed to find explicit calculations of marginal cost and marginal revenue. So, why do economists develop rather elaborate, formal models of profit maximization when no one seems to do what we say they do?

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Accounting Profits
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.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Microeconomics: Principles & Policy
Microeconomics: Principles & Policy
Economics
ISBN:
9781337794992
Author:
William J. Baumol, Alan S. Blinder, John L. Solow
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781337617383
Author:
Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Microeconomics
Microeconomics
Economics
ISBN:
9781337617406
Author:
Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:
Cengage Learning