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Selling Costs

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Topics

Estimated time: 18 minutes
  • Definitions: Selling Costs
  • Definition: Production Cost
  • Selling Cost Basics
  • Assumptions
  • Nature
  • Production vs. Selling Costs
  • Average Selling Cost (ASC) Curve
  • Equilibrium with Selling Costs
  • Key Points: Selling Costs
CISCE: Class 12

Definitions: Selling Costs

  • “Selling costs are costs incurred in order to alter the position or shape of the demand curve for the product.” — E.H. Chamberlin
  • “Selling costs include all expenses incurred to increase the demand for the goods.” — Robert Awh
CISCE: Class 12

Definition: Production Cost

“Production costs create utilities in order that demands may be satisfied while selling costs create and shift the demand curves themselves.” — E.H. Chamberlin

CISCE: Class 12

Selling Cost Basics

Selling costs help firms in monopolistic competition/oligopoly persuade buyers via ads/salespeople, shifting demand rightward to raise profits. Unlike production costs (making/delivering), they create preference.
Real-Life Example: Shampoo brands spend on TV ads to make you pick one over identical rivals.

CISCE: Class 12

Assumptions

  • Buyers lack perfect product knowledge.
  • Tastes/demands can change via persuasion.
CISCE: Class 12

Nature

  • Uncertain returns (rivals counter).
  • No fixed sales-cost link.
  • Must continue to retain customers.
CISCE: Class 12

Production vs. Selling Costs

Feature Production Costs Selling Costs
Purpose Create utility (make/transport) Shift demand (ads/sales salaries)
Examples Factory wages, truck fuel TV ads, retailer displays
Effect Meets demand Creates demand
Quote "Create utilities to satisfy" "Shift demand curves" – Chamberlin

Analogy: Production is baking bread; selling is convincing neighbors yours tastes best.

Average Selling Cost (ASC) Curve

ASC per unit forms a U-shape (falls then rises), like a rectangular hyperbola—never zero.
Reason for the U-Shaped Curve

Stage Trend Reason
Low Output Falls Sales grow faster than costs
High Output Rises Ads yield diminishing returns
CISCE: Class 12

Equilibrium with Selling Costs

Variable Selling Costs:

  1. Start: AR1 intersects APC at P; profit = shaded area.
  2. Add ads: AR2 shifts right; ACC1 rises; bigger profit.
  3. Optimal: More ads → AR3, max profit when extra revenue = extra ad cost.

Fixed Selling Costs

  1. Setup: AR (demand), MR; APC + fixed SC (shaded B) = ATUC.
  2. Equilibrium: MR = MC at output OQ; price SQ.
  3. Profits: Net return = PRCS; total = OQSP - OQCR.


Real Example: Coke spends on billboards; demand rises, price up, profits grow until Pepsi matches.

CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Selling Costs

  • What: Ads/sales expenses to shift demand right in monopolistic competition/oligopoly.
  • Vs Production: Selling creates demand; production meets it (e.g., ads vs factory).
  • ASC Curve: U-shaped—falls then rises per unit.
  • Effect: Boosts AR, profits until marginal ad revenue = ad cost.
  • Nature: Uncertain, ongoing, rival-dependent.

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