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how do you measure returns to scale with the help of cobb douglas production function

by Dr. Greg Ward Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

The C-D production function can be used in the calculation of the nature of returns to scale. The sum of the powers/exponents of factors in Cobb-Douglas production function, that is α+β measures the returns to scale. Therefore, If α+β=1, it exhibits constant returns to scale (CRS)

The Cobb Douglas production function {Q(L, K)=A(L^b)K^a}, exhibits the three types of returns: If a+b>1, there are increasing returns to scale. For a+b=1, we get constant returns to scale. If a+b<1, we get decreasing returns to scale.

Full Answer

How do you calculate returns to scale from production function?

Return to scale is calculated by multiplying each input function by a multiplier. If the result is greater than the multiplier, it increases returns to scale. If the result is less than the multiplier, then the production function will result in decreasing return to scale.

Does Cobb-Douglas production function have constant returns to scale?

For example, if twice the inputs are used in production, the output also doubles. Thus, constant returns to scale are reached when internal and external economies and diseconomies balance each other out. A regular example of constant returns to scale is the commonly used Cobb-Douglas Production Function (CDPF).

How do you use the Cobb-Douglas production function?

The production function is expressed in the formula: Q = f(K, L, P, H), where the quantity produced is a function of the combined input amounts of each factor. Of course, not all businesses require the same factors of production or number of inputs.

How is returns to scale measured?

An increasing returns to scale occurs when the output increases by a larger proportion than the increase in inputs during the production process. For example, if input is increased by 3 times, but output increases by 3.75 times, then the firm or economy has experienced an increasing returns to scale.

What type of returns Cobb-Douglas production function indicates?

In economics and econometrics, the Cobb–Douglas production function is a particular functional form of the production function, widely used to represent the technological relationship between the amounts of two or more inputs (particularly physical capital and labor) and the amount of output that can be produced by ...

What is return to scale in production process?

Returns to scale is a term that refers to the proportionality of changes in output after the amounts of all inputs in production have been changed by the same factor. Technology exhibits increasing, decreasing, or constant returns to scale.

How do you find the output of a Cobb-Douglas production function?

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What are the main properties of the Cobb-Douglas production function?

The sum of the powers/exponents of factors in Cobb-Douglas production function, that is α+β measures the returns to scale. Therefore, If α+β=1, it exhibits constant returns to scale (CRS) If α+β>1, it exhibits increasing returns to scale (IRS)

Does Cobb Douglas function have diminishing returns?

We've shown that the Cobb–Douglas function gives diminishing returns to both labor and capital when each factor is varied in isolation.

What are the two methods to measure return?

The two primary total investment return calculations are Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Both measures are rooted in Time Value of Money concepts, which essentially state that money has time value because it can earn interest when invested over time.

What is returns to scale explain with diagram?

The law of returns to scale explains the proportional change in output with respect to proportional change in inputs. In other words, the law of returns to scale states when there are a proportionate change in the amounts of inputs, the behavior of output also changes.

What is returns to scale and its types?

Its assumptions include – only two inputs, fixed technology, constant pricing, and labor plus capital used as inputs. There are three types of return to scale – constant returns to scale, increasing returns to scale, and decreasing returns to scale.

Does the production have constant returns to scale?

More precisely, a production function F has constant returns to scale if, for any > 1, F ( z1, z2) = F (z1, z2) for all (z1, z2). If, when we multiply the amount of every input by the number , the factor by which output increases is less than , then the production function has decreasing returns to scale (DRTS).

Under what conditions are constant returns to scale?

A constant return to scale is when an increase in input results in a proportional increase in output. Increasing returns to scale is when the output increases in a greater proportion than the increase in input.

How do you know if something has constant returns to scale?

If output increases by the same proportional change as all inputs change then there are constant returns to scale (CRS). If output increases by less than the proportional change in all inputs, there are decreasing returns to scale (DRS).

When there are constant returns to scale production function is called as?

A function which is homogeneous of degree 1 is said to be linearly homogeneous, or to display linear homogeneity. It displays constant returns to scale since a doubling all inputs will lead to an exact doubling of output i.e., level of input and output are exactly same.

Return to scale and Cobb Douglas Function

What are returns to scale and what are its three types? Let us understand each case with a diagram for the production function. We will also learn about the famous Cobb-Douglas production function. Let us get started!

Returns to Scale

The long-run refers to a time period where the production function is defined on the basis of variable factors only. No fixed factors exist in the long run and all factors become variable. Thus, the scale of production can be changed as inputs are changed proportionately.

Cobb-Douglas Production Function

As we know, a production function explains the functional relationship between inputs (or factors of production) and the final physical output. Let us begin with a simple form a production function first –

How to find the Cobb Douglas function?

The Cobb Douglas production function {Q (L, K)=A (L^b)K^a} , exhibits the three types of returns: 1 If a+b&gt;1, there are increasing returns to scale. 2 For a+b=1, we get constant returns to scale. 3 If a+b&lt;1, we get decreasing returns to scale.

What are the three types of return to scale?

Of course, the return to scale can be of three types- increasing, decreasing and constant.

What is the relative change in production?

For constant returns to scale to occur, the relative change in production should be equal to the proportionate change in the factors. For example, if all the factors are proportionately doubled, then constant returns would imply that the production output would also double.

What is the production function of an economy?

Interestingly, the production function of an economy as a whole exhibits close characteristics of constant returns to scale. Also, studies suggest that an individual firm passes through a long phase of constant return to scale in its lifetime. Lastly, it is also known as the linear homogeneous production function.

What happens when a firm expands to a very large size?

When the firm expands to a very large size, it becomes difficult to manage it with the same efficiency as before. Hence, the increasing complexity in management, coordination, and control eventually leads to decreasing returns.

Why are some factors available in large units?

Some factors are available in large units, such that they are completely suitable for large-scale production. Evidently, if all the factors are perfectly divisible then there might be no increasing returns. Further, specialization of land and machinery can be another reason.

Is the study of production a long run or short run?

It is important to realize that the study of production completely differs according to the time frame. Recollect that we take the help of the law of diminishing returns to study production in the short run, whereas in the long run, the returns to scale are at the helm. Again, the long run is a long enough period in which we can alter both fixed ...

What test to use for increasing returns?

If you want to perform a specific test for either increasing or decreasing returns to scale, then you need to use a one-sided t test. In the case of increasing returns, you test the following hypothesis and alternative:

What is production function?

A production function is a function that summarizes the conversion of inputs in to outputs. For example, the production of cars using steel, labor, machinery, and plant facilities could be described as . Production functions can be applied to a single firm, an industry, or an entire nation. Note, however, that they are limited ...

How to test a hypothesis in SAS?

You can test this hypothesis using SAS by first creating the log variables, then using PROC REG to conduct an F test. Traditionally, you need to create both a full and a reduced model where the full model regresses . The reduced model restates the hypothesis as and substitutes the new value for into the full model. Solving for the reduced model, you get the following:

What does it mean when the value of a F test is less than the chosen significance level?

In the F test results, you find a -value of . If the -value is less than the chosen significance level, then you reject the hypothesis in favor of the alternative . If the -value is greater than the chosen significance level, then there is insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis. If you assume a significance level of 0.05 for this example, then , and you fail to reject the hypothesis. You find that the model demonstrates constant returns to scale.

What happens to output when both capital and labor are increased?

Formally, for constant returns to scale, . That is, if both of the inputs, capital and labor, are increased by a factor of , then output also increases by a factor of . For increasing returns, if both capital and labor are increased by a factor of , then output increases by an amount greater than . In this case, . The opposite is true for decreasing returns. If both capital and labor are increased by a factor of , then output increases by an amount less than such that .

Can you perform a linear regression as a reduced model?

Thus, you perform the simple linear regression as the reduced model using the MODEL statement.

What is return to scale?

Returns to Scale seems to be the change in the production function. If this is correct it should be equal to the derivative of the production function. Since we have two variables K and L we need to take the partial derivatives and add them together.

What is the formula for p?

p = A L a K b w h e r e, ( A, a, b) a r e c o n s t a n t.

Is rate of change dependent on sum?

From this you can see that the rate of change is dependent on the sum of a + b and it is easy to show the properties of returns to scale as they simply follow the rules of the exponential function. The important properties in terms of economics is that for any positive change in m (means m != 1) the rate of change increases if a + b > 1 decreases if a + b < 1 and is equal to the change in m if a + b = 1

What is the Cobb Douglas function?

The Cobb-Douglas production function is an empirical production function developed by Charles W. Cobb (American Mathematician) and Paul H. Douglas (American Economist) based on empirical studies of various manufacturing industries of the USA. This production function was published in American Economic Review in 1928 in the form of an article A Theory of Production. By the name of mathematician C.W. Cobb and economist P.H. Douglas, this production function is termed Cobb-Douglas production function. Here we explain the major properties of the Cobb-Douglas production function.

What is the value of A in a production function?

A = It is an index of technology or efficiency parameter also called total factor productivity and is positive, α and β are positive parameters of the production function which measures output elasticities of capital and labor, respectively. These values are constants and are determined by the available state of technology.

What is the output elasticity of labor?

Therefore, the output elasticity of labor is β and the output elasticity of capital is α. These two are the power of labor and capital respectively in the standard Cobb-Douglas production function. So, α and β in the C-D production function represent the coefficient of output elasticities of capital and labor, respectively. The value of α can be inferred as one percentage increase in capital will result in an increase in output by α percentage. Similarly, the value of β can be understood as a one percent increase in labor will increase the output by β percentage.

What is the power of labor and capital?

The powers of labor and capital (that are β and α) in the C-D production function measure output elasticities of labor (L) and capital (K) respectively. The output elasticity of a factor shows the percentage change in output due to a given percentage change in the number of factor inputs.

What is marginal rate of technical substitution?

The marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTS) in the theory of production that measures the degree of substitutability/interchangeability/exchangeability between factors inputs. The MRTS in the case of the C-D production function can be expressed in terms of the ratio between labor and capital. It is given below.

How to find factor intensity in C-D?

In the C-D production function, the factor intensity is computed by taking the between ratio α and β (ratio between exponent of capital and exponent of labor) as

Is the sum of exponents of the C-D production function equal to one?

Another important thing to note is that originally it was found that the sum of exponents of the C-D production function was equal to one. That is α+β is one. From further research and analysis, it was generalized and found that the sum of exponents (α+β) could be equal to one, more than one, and less than one.

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24 hours ago The Cobb Douglas production function {Q (L, K)=A (L^b)K^a} , exhibits the three types of returns: If a+b>1, there are increasing returns to scale. For a+b=1, we get constant returns to scale. If …

2.Returns to Scale and Cobb Douglas Function - Toppr-guides

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34 hours ago 0.93852. As with the F test, you compare the -values with your chosen level of significance. Assuming a significance level of 0.05, you compare the -value for increasing returns to scale. …

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13 hours ago  · The way the Rate of Return for the Cobb Douglas production function is proven in the new definition of my textbook is as follows. p = A L a K b w h e r e, ( A, a, b) a r e c o n s t a n …

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3 hours ago 1. The C-D Production Function Can be Used to Measure the Returns to Scale. The C-D production function can be used in the calculation of the nature of returns to scale. The sum of …

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7 hours ago  · If β+α=1 , the production function has constant returns to scale. If β+α > 1 , the production function has increasing returns to scale. If β+α < 1 , the production function has …

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