Question

The UJava espresso stand needs two inputs, labor and coffee beans, to produce its only output, espresso. Producing an espresso always requires the same amount of coffee beans and the same amount of time. What type of production function will appropriately describe the production process at UJava, where B represents ounces of coffee beans, and L represents hours of labor? Write down the functional form of the production function.

Answer 1

Answer:

Q = min[3B; 40L]

Explanation:

This is an example of Leontief production function in which factors of production, in this case B and L, are used in fixed proportion that is determined by the production technology which makes  substitutability between factors impossible.

If we assume that 3 ounces of B and 40 minutes of L are always required to produce one unit of espresso represented by Q, the functional form of the production function can be written as follows:

Q = min[3B; 40L].