Question

Howard Bowen is a large-scale cotton farmer. The land and machinery he owns has a current market value of $11 million. Bowen owes his local bank $9 million. Last year Bowen sold $10 million worth of cotton. His variable operating costs were $8 million; accounting depreciation was $40,000, although the actual decline in value of Bowen's machinery was $60,000 last year. Bowen paid himself a salary of $50,000, which is not considered part of his variable operating costs. Interest on his bank loan was $400,000. If Bowen worked for another farmer or a local manufacturer, his annual income would be about $30,000. Bowen can invest any funds that would be derived if the farm were sold to earn 10% annually. (Ignore taxes.)

Required:
a. What is Bowen's accounting profit?
b. What is Bowen's economic profit?

Answer 1

Answer:

A. $1,510,000

B. -$10,000

Explanation:

a. Calculation to determine Bowen’s Accounting profits

Using this formula

Accounting profits = Total revenue - Explicit cost

Let plug in the formula

Accounting profit = $10 million - $8 million - $40,000 - $400,000 - $50,000

Accounting profit= $1,510,000

Therefore Bowen’s Accounting profits is $1,510,000

b. Calculation to determine Bowen’s Economic profit

Using this formula

Economic profits = Accounting profit - Implicit cost

Let plug in the formula

Economic profits = $1,510,000 - [($11,000,000*0.1) + $30,000 + ($60,000 - $40,000)]

Economic profits =$1,510,000 - [$1,100,000+ $30,000 + $60,000 - $40,000)]

Economic profits =$1,510,000-$1,150,000

Economic profits =-$10,000

Therefore Bowen’s Economic profit is -$10,000