Read the passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage: Short run Costs In the short run, some of the factors of production cannot be varied. The cost that a firm incurs to employ fixed inputs is called the total fixed cost. Whatever amount of output the firm produces, this cost remains fixed for the firm. To produce any required level of output, the firm, in the short run, can adjust only variable inputs. Accordingly, the cost that a firm incurs to employ these variable inputs is called the total variable cost. Adding the fixed and the variable costs, we get the total cost of a firm. In order to increase the production of output, the firm must employ more of the variable inputs. As a result, the total variable cost and total cost will increase. Therefore, as output increases, the total variable cost and total cost increase. Marginal cost is the increase in total variable cost due to an increase in production of one extra unit of output. For any level of output, the sum of marginal costs up to that level gives us the total variable cost at that level. |
An increase in production of one extra unit of output will lead to an increase in ____. |
Marginal Cost. Total Fixed Cost. Total Variable Cost. Average Cost. |
Total Variable Cost. |
The correct answer is Option (3) → Total Variable Cost. The passage states: "Marginal cost is the increase in total variable cost due to an increase in production of one extra unit of output." Therefore, an increase in production of one extra unit of output will lead to an increase in Total Variable Cost.
When even one extra unit is produced, the firm will definitely spend more on variable inputs (like raw materials, labor, etc.), and so total variable cost (TVC) will increase. This is certain and direct.
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