The Laws of Return to Scale explains the behaviour of rate of increase in the output/production to the subsequent increase in the inputs i.e. the factors of production in the long run.In the long run all factors of production are variable and subject to change due a given increase in size/scale .
The laws of Returns to scale is a set of three inter-related and chronological laws (stages)
A] LAW OF INCREASING RETURNS TO SCALE
It is mostly the first of the laws to occur as in this stage the newly added indivisible factors of production have not yet reached their installed capacity i.e. maximum output.This also occurs due to adoption of specialized machinery and increasing efficiency in production and the per unit production cost decrease. There can be several other reasons too.
B] LAW OF CONSTANT RETURNS TO SCALE
This stage occurs when the maximum capacity of the inputs is used to create the maximum output .The rational producer naturally prefers this stage as the returns from all the inputs largely remain the same . This stage occurs in every production business as there is a certain limit to the increase in the production
C] LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS
this stage when the producer further increases his capacity of production and lets the diseconomies of large production enter in the trading of the business. The production starts giving a negative rate of return .i.e. the production decreases\diminishes. This forces the producers to downsize and eventually stop their production.
differentiate between returns to scale and constant return to scale
My loose definition of constant returns to scale:Constant returns to scale occur when a given increase in output is brought about by the same proportional increase in returns.
THE LAW OF RETURNS TO mean that law in which we study about the different period of the production in which increasing , decreasing , and constant returns to scale is studied
The principle of diminishing returns to inputs is when more on one input is added, while other inputs are held constant, the marginal product of the input diminishes. Decreasing returns to scale is when the a firm doubles its inputs, output increases by less than double. With diminishing returns, only one input is being changed while holding the other is fixed. But for decreasing returns, both inputs may change
Returns to scale are primarily observed in industries characterized by significant fixed costs and capital-intensive production processes, such as manufacturing, utilities, and telecommunications. In these sectors, increasing the scale of production can lead to more efficient use of resources, resulting in cost savings and enhanced output. Additionally, industries like agriculture may experience returns to scale as larger farms can utilize technology and economies of scale to increase productivity. Overall, industries that benefit from mass production and large-scale operations often exhibit returns to scale.
differentiate between returns to scale and constant return to scale
Economies of scale (costs decrease), diseconomies of scale (costs increase), constant returns to scale (costs stay the same)
My loose definition of constant returns to scale:Constant returns to scale occur when a given increase in output is brought about by the same proportional increase in returns.
THE LAW OF RETURNS TO mean that law in which we study about the different period of the production in which increasing , decreasing , and constant returns to scale is studied
The principle of diminishing returns to inputs is when more on one input is added, while other inputs are held constant, the marginal product of the input diminishes. Decreasing returns to scale is when the a firm doubles its inputs, output increases by less than double. With diminishing returns, only one input is being changed while holding the other is fixed. But for decreasing returns, both inputs may change
Returns to scale are primarily observed in industries characterized by significant fixed costs and capital-intensive production processes, such as manufacturing, utilities, and telecommunications. In these sectors, increasing the scale of production can lead to more efficient use of resources, resulting in cost savings and enhanced output. Additionally, industries like agriculture may experience returns to scale as larger farms can utilize technology and economies of scale to increase productivity. Overall, industries that benefit from mass production and large-scale operations often exhibit returns to scale.
The Law of Diminishing Returns is one of the powerful laws in economics. The Law of Economies of Scale is another law of similar importance. [And in that order IMHO]
AFC will decrease
Returns to scale refer to a special relationship between output and input. During production, this relationship refers to the connection between the changes that occur with the output and those that began in the input.
Cite and briefly discuss the main determinants of economies of scale.
The temperature scale that must be used in all gas laws is the Kelvin scale. This is because the Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero, which is the point where particles have minimal kinetic energy, making it the ideal scale for gas laws calculations.
Returns to scale refer to the change in output when all inputs are increased proportionally, while economies of scale refer to the cost advantages a firm gains as it increases its production levels. Returns to scale can impact a firm's production efficiency by affecting the overall output, while economies of scale can impact a firm's cost structure by reducing the average cost per unit as production increases.