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Linear Break-Even Analysis: When is it Applicable to Business

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  • Tisdell, Clement A.

Abstract

Reviews linear break-even analysis as typically outlined in textbooks on managerial economics. It is claimed that a major shortcoming of these expositions is their failure to demonstrate in what circumstances linear break-even analysis is relevant for a business and in what circumstances it is inapplicable. This article helps rectify this situation. It points out that such analysis can not be applied to perfectly competitive firms. However, in special circumstances, it might apply to a purely competitive firm. It is highly relevant for businesses operating in oligopolistic conditions where the kinked demand curve applies. Furthermore, it is applicable if imperfectly competitive firms follow fixed price rules. On the other hand, if imperfectly competitive firms, such as monopolists, adopt flexible pricing (for example, prices to clear whatever quantity of product they have supplied to the market) the linearity assumption involved in this type of break-even analysis will, as a rule, be violated. This is so because the firm’s total revenue will be a non-linear function of the quantity of the product supplied by the firm to the market. Nevertheless, because fixed price behaviour by businesses may be common, as well as constant average variable costs of production over a considerable range of output, linear break-even analyses has a considerable range of application to business

Suggested Citation

  • Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "Linear Break-Even Analysis: When is it Applicable to Business," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90533, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uqseet:90533
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.90533
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "The Political Economy of Globalisation: Processes involving the Role of Markets, Institutions and Governance," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90507, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    2. Clement Allan Tisdell & Serge Svizzero, 2001. "Globalization, Social Welfare, Labor Markets and Fiscal Competition," Working Papers hal-02164344, HAL.
    3. Tisdell, Clement A., 2003. "Efficient Public Provision of Commodities: Transaction Costs, Bounded Rationality and Other Considerations," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90529, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    4. Tisdell, Clement A. & Alauddin, Mohammad, 2002. "Market-Oriented Reforms in Bangladesh and their Impact on Poverty?," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90521, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    5. Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "Globalisation, the Environment and Sustainability: EKC, Neo-Malthusian Concerns and the WTO," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90502, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    6. Tisdell, Clem & Seidl, Irmi, 2004. "Niches and economic competition: implications for economic efficiency, growth and diversity," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 119-135, June.
    7. Tisdell, Clement A. & Svizzero, Serge, 2003. "Globalization, Social Welfare and Labor Market Inequalities," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90525, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    8. Darrian Collins & Clem Tisdell, 2004. "Outbound Business Travel Depends on Business Returns: Australian Evidence," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(2), pages 192-207, June.
    9. Gao, Zhicun & Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "Television Production: Its Changing Global Location, the Product Cycle and China," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90530, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    10. Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "Externalities, Thresholds and the Marketing of New Aquacultural Products: Theory and Examples," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90468, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    11. Serge Svizzero & Clem Tisdell, 2002. "Reconciling globalisation and technological change: Growing income inequalities and remedial policies," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 37(3), pages 162-171, May.
    12. Tisdell, Clement A., 2002. "Economics and Tourism Development: Structural Features of Tourism and Economic Influences on its Vulnerability," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90522, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    13. Tisdell, Clement A., 2002. "Tourism as a Contributor to the Economic Diversification and Development of Small States: Its Strengths, Weaknesses and Potential for Brunei," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90514, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    14. Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "Economics of Business Learning: The Need for Broader Perspectives in Managerial Economics," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90532, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    15. Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "Competition and Evolution in Economics and Ecology Compared," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90506, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    16. Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "Transaction Costs and Bounded Rationality - Implications for Public Administration and Economic Policy," Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers 90531, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
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