Short-run and long-run costs | Intermediate Microeconomic… | Fiveable

April 12, 2026

Short-run cost management is about making the best of what you’ve got. You optimize the inputs you can change (variable inputs) while working around the ones you can’t. Long-run planning is more strategic. Firms decide what scale of operations minimizes costs and which technologies to adopt.

https://fiveable.me/intermediate-microeconomic-theory/unit-2/short-run-long-run-costs/study-guide/hjKxqqy1pw1z0bKM

Short-run and long-run costs | Intermediate Microeconomic… | Fiveable <body> <h1> Array ( [0] => ahort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [1] => zhort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [2] => xhort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [3] => dhort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [4] => ehort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [5] => whort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [6] => sgort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [7] => sbort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [8] => snort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [9] => sjort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [10] => suort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [11] => syort-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [12] => shirt-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [13] => shkrt-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [14] => shlrt-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [15] => shprt-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [16] => sh0rt-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [17] => sh9rt-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [18] => shoet-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [19] => shodt-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [20] => shoft-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [21] => shott-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [22] => sho5t-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [23] => sho4t-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [24] => shorr-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [25] => shorf-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [26] => shorg-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [27] => shory-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [28] => shor6-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [29] => shor5-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [30] => short0run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [31] => shortprun and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [32] => short-eun and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [33] => short-dun and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [34] => short-fun and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [35] => short-tun and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [36] => short-5un and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [37] => short-4un and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [38] => short-ryn and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [39] => short-rhn and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [40] => short-rjn and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [41] => short-rin and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [42] => short-r8n and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [43] => short-r7n and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [44] => short-rub and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [45] => short-rum and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [46] => short-ruj and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [47] => short-ruh and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [48] => short-run znd long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [49] => short-run snd long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [50] => short-run wnd long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [51] => short-run qnd long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [52] => short-run abd long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [53] => short-run amd long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [54] => short-run ajd long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [55] => short-run ahd long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [56] => short-run ans long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [57] => short-run anx long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [58] => short-run anc long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [59] => short-run anf long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [60] => short-run anr long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [61] => short-run ane long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [62] => short-run and kong-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [63] => short-run and pong-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [64] => short-run and oong-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [65] => short-run and ling-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [66] => short-run and lkng-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [67] => short-run and llng-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [68] => short-run and lpng-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [69] => short-run and l0ng-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [70] => short-run and l9ng-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [71] => short-run and lobg-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [72] => short-run and lomg-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [73] => short-run and lojg-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [74] => short-run and lohg-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [75] => short-run and lonf-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [76] => short-run and lonv-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [77] => short-run and lonb-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [78] => short-run and lonh-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [79] => short-run and lony-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [80] => short-run and lont-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [81] => short-run and long0run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [82] => short-run and longprun costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [83] => short-run and long-eun costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [84] => short-run and long-dun costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [85] => short-run and long-fun costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [86] => short-run and long-tun costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [87] => short-run and long-5un costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [88] => short-run and long-4un costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [89] => short-run and long-ryn costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [90] => short-run and long-rhn costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [91] => short-run and long-rjn costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [92] => short-run and long-rin costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [93] => short-run and long-r8n costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [94] => short-run and long-r7n costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [95] => short-run and long-rub costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [96] => short-run and long-rum costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [97] => short-run and long-ruj costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [98] => short-run and long-ruh costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [99] => short-run and long-run xosts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [100] => short-run and long-run vosts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [101] => short-run and long-run fosts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [102] => short-run and long-run dosts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [103] => short-run and long-run cists | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [104] => short-run and long-run cksts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [105] => short-run and long-run clsts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [106] => short-run and long-run cpsts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [107] => short-run and long-run c0sts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [108] => short-run and long-run c9sts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [109] => short-run and long-run coats | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [110] => short-run and long-run cozts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [111] => short-run and long-run coxts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [112] => short-run and long-run codts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [113] => short-run and long-run coets | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [114] => short-run and long-run cowts | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [115] => short-run and long-run cosrs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [116] => short-run and long-run cosfs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [117] => short-run and long-run cosgs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [118] => short-run and long-run cosys | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [119] => short-run and long-run cos6s | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [120] => short-run and long-run cos5s | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [121] => short-run and long-run costa | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [122] => short-run and long-run costz | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [123] => short-run and long-run costx | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [124] => short-run and long-run costd | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [125] => short-run and long-run coste | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [126] => short-run and long-run costw | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [127] => short-run and long-run costs | untermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [128] => short-run and long-run costs | jntermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [129] => short-run and long-run costs | kntermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [130] => short-run and long-run costs | ontermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [131] => short-run and long-run costs | 9ntermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [132] => short-run and long-run costs | 8ntermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [133] => short-run and long-run costs | ibtermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [134] => short-run and long-run costs | imtermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [135] => short-run and long-run costs | ijtermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [136] => short-run and long-run costs | ihtermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [137] => short-run and long-run costs | inrermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [138] => short-run and long-run costs | infermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [139] => short-run and long-run costs | ingermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [140] => short-run and long-run costs | inyermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [141] => short-run and long-run costs | in6ermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [142] => short-run and long-run costs | in5ermediate microeconomic… | fiveable [143] => short-run and long-run costs | intwrmediate microeconomic… | fiveable [144] => short-run and long-run costs | intsrmediate microeconomic… | fiveable [145] => short-run and long-run costs | intdrmediate microeconomic… | fiveable [146] => short-run and long-run costs | intrrmediate microeconomic… | fiveable [147] => short-run and long-run costs | int4rmediate microeconomic… | fiveable [148] => short-run and long-run costs | int3rmediate microeconomic… | fiveable [149] => short-run and long-run costs | inteemediate microeconomic… | fiveable [150] => short-run and long-run costs | intedmediate microeconomic… | fiveable [151] => short-run and long-run costs | intefmediate microeconomic… | fiveable [152] => short-run and long-run costs | intetmediate microeconomic… | fiveable [153] => short-run and long-run costs | inte5mediate microeconomic… | fiveable [154] => short-run and long-run costs | inte4mediate microeconomic… | fiveable [155] => short-run and long-run costs | internediate microeconomic… | fiveable [156] => short-run and long-run costs | interkediate microeconomic… | fiveable [157] => short-run and long-run costs | interjediate microeconomic… | fiveable [158] => short-run and long-run costs | intermwdiate microeconomic… | fiveable [159] => short-run and long-run costs | intermsdiate microeconomic… | fiveable [160] => short-run and long-run costs | intermddiate microeconomic… | fiveable [161] => short-run and long-run costs | intermrdiate microeconomic… | fiveable [162] => short-run and long-run costs | interm4diate microeconomic… | fiveable [163] => short-run and long-run costs | interm3diate microeconomic… | fiveable [164] => short-run and long-run costs | intermesiate microeconomic… | fiveable [165] => short-run and long-run costs | intermexiate microeconomic… | fiveable [166] => short-run and long-run costs | intermeciate microeconomic… | fiveable [167] => short-run and long-run costs | intermefiate microeconomic… | fiveable [168] => short-run and long-run costs | intermeriate microeconomic… | fiveable [169] => short-run and long-run costs | intermeeiate microeconomic… | fiveable [170] => short-run and long-run costs | intermeduate microeconomic… | fiveable [171] => short-run and long-run costs | intermedjate microeconomic… | fiveable [172] => short-run and long-run costs | intermedkate microeconomic… | fiveable [173] => short-run and long-run costs | intermedoate microeconomic… | fiveable [174] => short-run and long-run costs | intermed9ate microeconomic… | fiveable [175] => short-run and long-run costs | intermed8ate microeconomic… | fiveable [176] => short-run and long-run costs | intermedizte microeconomic… | fiveable [177] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediste microeconomic… | fiveable [178] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediwte microeconomic… | fiveable [179] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediqte microeconomic… | fiveable [180] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediare microeconomic… | fiveable [181] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediafe microeconomic… | fiveable [182] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediage microeconomic… | fiveable [183] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediaye microeconomic… | fiveable [184] => short-run and long-run costs | intermedia6e microeconomic… | fiveable [185] => short-run and long-run costs | intermedia5e microeconomic… | fiveable [186] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediatw microeconomic… | fiveable [187] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediats microeconomic… | fiveable [188] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediatd microeconomic… | fiveable [189] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediatr microeconomic… | fiveable [190] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediat4 microeconomic… | fiveable [191] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediat3 microeconomic… | fiveable [192] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate nicroeconomic… | fiveable [193] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate kicroeconomic… | fiveable [194] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate jicroeconomic… | fiveable [195] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate mucroeconomic… | fiveable [196] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate mjcroeconomic… | fiveable [197] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate mkcroeconomic… | fiveable [198] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate mocroeconomic… | fiveable [199] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate m9croeconomic… | fiveable [200] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate m8croeconomic… | fiveable [201] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate mixroeconomic… | fiveable [202] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate mivroeconomic… | fiveable [203] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate mifroeconomic… | fiveable [204] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate midroeconomic… | fiveable [205] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate miceoeconomic… | fiveable [206] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate micdoeconomic… | fiveable [207] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate micfoeconomic… | fiveable [208] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate mictoeconomic… | fiveable [209] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate mic5oeconomic… | fiveable [210] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate mic4oeconomic… | fiveable [211] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate micrieconomic… | fiveable [212] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate micrkeconomic… | fiveable [213] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate micrleconomic… | fiveable [214] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate micrpeconomic… | fiveable [215] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate micr0economic… | fiveable [216] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate micr9economic… | fiveable [217] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microwconomic… | fiveable [218] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microsconomic… | fiveable [219] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microdconomic… | fiveable [220] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microrconomic… | fiveable [221] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate micro4conomic… | fiveable [222] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate micro3conomic… | fiveable [223] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microexonomic… | fiveable [224] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microevonomic… | fiveable [225] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microefonomic… | fiveable [226] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microedonomic… | fiveable [227] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microecinomic… | fiveable [228] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microecknomic… | fiveable [229] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeclnomic… | fiveable [230] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microecpnomic… | fiveable [231] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microec0nomic… | fiveable [232] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microec9nomic… | fiveable [233] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microecobomic… | fiveable [234] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microecomomic… | fiveable [235] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microecojomic… | fiveable [236] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microecohomic… | fiveable [237] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconimic… | fiveable [238] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconkmic… | fiveable [239] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconlmic… | fiveable [240] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconpmic… | fiveable [241] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microecon0mic… | fiveable [242] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microecon9mic… | fiveable [243] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microecononic… | fiveable [244] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconokic… | fiveable [245] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconojic… | fiveable [246] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomuc… | fiveable [247] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomjc… | fiveable [248] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomkc… | fiveable [249] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomoc… | fiveable [250] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconom9c… | fiveable [251] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconom8c… | fiveable [252] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomix… | fiveable [253] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomiv… | fiveable [254] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomif… | fiveable [255] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomid… | fiveable [256] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic᰾ | fiveable [257] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic&#u230; | fiveable [258] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic&#i230; | fiveable [259] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic␎ | fiveable [260] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomicῂ | fiveable [261] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic&#8q30; | fiveable [262] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic&#8w30; | fiveable [263] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic₊ | fiveable [264] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic“ | fiveable [265] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic&#82w0; | fiveable [266] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic&#82e0; | fiveable [267] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic‰ | fiveable [268] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic  | fiveable [269] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic&#823o; | fiveable [270] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic&#823p; | fiveable [271] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic&#823-; | fiveable [272] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | diveable [273] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | civeable [274] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | viveable [275] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | giveable [276] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | tiveable [277] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | riveable [278] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fuveable [279] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fjveable [280] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fkveable [281] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | foveable [282] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | f9veable [283] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | f8veable [284] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | ficeable [285] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fibeable [286] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | figeable [287] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fifeable [288] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fivwable [289] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fivsable [290] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fivdable [291] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fivrable [292] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiv4able [293] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiv3able [294] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fivezble [295] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fivesble [296] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fivewble [297] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveqble [298] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveavle [299] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveanle [300] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveahle [301] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveagle [302] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveabke [303] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveabpe [304] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveaboe [305] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveablw [306] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveabls [307] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveabld [308] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveablr [309] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveabl4 [310] => short-run and long-run costs | intermediate microeconomic… | fiveabl3 ) </h1> </body>