Question

Why is the short-run marginal cost curve ‘U’-shaped?

Why is the marginal cost curve ‘U’ shaped? 

Answer 1

The SMC curve is a U-shaped curve due to the law of variable proportions. In order to understand the reason behind the U-shape of SMC, let us divide the SMC curve (UAB) into three different parts according to the law of variable proportions:

1. The UA part corresponds to increasing returns to the factor.
2. Minimum point A corresponds to constant returns to factor.
3. The AB part corresponds to decreasing returns to the factor.

In the initial production stages, the falling part of SMC (UA) is due to the application of increasing returns to factor. Then the SMC stops falling and reaches its minimum point ‘A’ due to the existence of constant returns to a factor.

After the minimum point A, SMC starts rising (i.e., the ‘AB’ part of SMC) due to the onset of decreasing returns of variable factors. This trend of the SMC curve (initially falling, then becoming constant at its minimum point and then rising) makes it look like the English ‘U’.