Question

Explain why will a producer not be in equilibrium if the conditions of equilibrium are not met.

Explain the rationale behind the conditions of equilibrium of a producer

Answer 1

The producer’s equilibrium refers to the situation in which he maximises his profits. A producer strikes equilibrium when two conditions are satisfied:

i. MR = MC
ii. MC is rising or the MC curve cuts the MR curve from below

MR, MC Schedule and Producer’s Equilibrium

Output	MR	MC
1	10	8
2	10	7
3	10	6
4	10	8
5	10	10
6	10	13

Here, it is assumed that price (AR) is constant so that MR is constant, i.e. = Rs 10 under perfect competition. This table indicates that the two conditions of equilibrium are satisfied only when 5 units of output are produced. It is here that (i) MR = MC = Rs 10 and (ii) MC is rising.

Equilibrium is not struck when MR > MC. In such a situation, producing an additional unit would add more to TR than to TC. This implies that the gap between TR and TC tends to widen or that profits are still to be maximised

Condition 1:

i) If MR > MC:
Suppose OQ1 is the output level at the price AQ₁ and the marginal cost is BQ₁, then it would be AQ₁ > BQ₁. Here, OQ₁ is not the level of output at which the profit is maximised. So, the firm can increase its profit by increasing the production to the OQ₂ level of output

ii. If Price (MR) < MC:
Suppose _OQ3 is the output level at the price DQ₃ and the marginal cost is CQ₃, then it would
be DQ3 < CQ₃. Here, OQ₃ is not the level of output at which the profit is maximised. So, the
firm can increase its profit by decreasing its output level to OQ₂. Thus, the firm’s equilibrium level of output to maximise output is that MR = MC and MC should rise at the point of intersection with MR.

Condition 2:

In the diagram, the MC curve intersects the price line (or MR) at two points—A and B. Here, Condition 1 of profit maximisation MR = MC is satisfied at these two points. Next, let us consider Condition 2.

i. Intersection point at A:
At intersection point A, the price is equal to MC but MC is falling, and it is a downward-sloping curve. If the output is increased more than the OQ0 level, then the price is more than MC. This means that the firm can increase the production more than the OQ₀ level of output to maximise profit.

ii) Intersection point at B:
At intersection point B, if the output is increased more than output OQ₂, the price is more than MC. This states that the firm can increase the production more than the OQ2 level of output to maximise profit. While if the firm produces the higher level of output than OQ2, then the price is less than MC. This clearly states that high profit is possible by decreasing the output level to OQ₂. Thus, Point B is the producer’s equilibrium and OQ₂ is the output level to maximise profit by satisfying the two necessary conditions (i) Price = MC and (ii) the MC curve is rising.