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At every output level, a firm’s short-run average cost (SAC) equals or exceeds its long-run average cost (LAC) because:a. Diminishing returns apply in the short run.b. Returns to scale only exist in the long run.c. Opportunity costs are taken into account in the short run.d. There are at least as many possibilities for substitution between factors of productionin the long run as in the short run.e. Economies of scope only apply in the long run.

Question

At every output level, a firm’s short-run average cost (SAC) equals or exceeds its long-run average cost (LAC) because:a. Diminishing returns apply in the short run.b. Returns to scale only exist in the long run.c. Opportunity costs are taken into account in the short run.d. There are at least as many possibilities for substitution between factors of productionin the long run as in the short run.e. Economies of scope only apply in the long run.

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Solution

The statement that at every output level, a firm’s short-run average cost (SAC) equals or exceeds its long-run average cost (LAC) is primarily due to the fact that there are at least as many possibilities for substitution between factors of production in the long run as in the short run (option d).

Here's why:

In the short run, a firm has certain fixed inputs that it cannot change. For example, a firm cannot quickly build a new factory or hire a large number of new workers. Therefore, it has fewer options for substituting between different factors of production.

In contrast, in the long run, all inputs are variable. A firm can build new factories, hire more workers, or invest in new technologies. This flexibility allows the firm to substitute between different factors of production to find the most cost-effective combination, which can lead to lower average costs.

The other options (a, b, c, e) are not as directly related to the difference between SAC and LAC. While they may influence costs in the short run or long run, they do not explain why SAC equals or exceeds LAC at every output level.

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