<p>The short answer is <strong>no.</strong> </p>

<p>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_supply" rel="nofollow noreferrer">law of supply</a> only states that increases in price result in higher quantities supplied, ceteris paribus. Break even is the point where Revenue = Costs. </p>

<p>Your confusion might come from this sentence:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>a firm producing at break even level of output would have to increase the quantity supplied if the price of the commodity goes down in order to break even.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If the price lowers, the firm will reduce its quantity supplied. That's it. The specific quantity depends on the variable and fixed costs. 
It's not mentioned that the company has to break even - think of a monopolist for example.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-27T14:39:10.030Z
So does that mean that a firm already producing at break even level of output would reduce the quantity supplied even though that leads it further away from breaking even ? Please clarify what would a firm producing at break even level of output would do if the price goes down
HN17
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T12:25:56.637Z
@HN17 the price change affects the break even point. If the price goes up it can afford to produce more before breaking even as it would be making profit if it doesn't increase quantity. If the price goes down it will be losing money if it produces the same amount, so it will produce less (worst case, 0 if it exists the market due to inability to break even with the new price)
serakfalcon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-26T07:16:04.887Z
2017-10-26T07:16:04.887Z
JoaoBotelho
<p>The logic of the OP implies that <em>all costs are fixed</em>. In the very short-term one could say that this holds for many firms: a firm cannot leave rented buildings immediately, it can not fire employees immediately etc. Namely "costs" have the form of financial commitments. </p>

<p>But in the mid term (and I am talking a few weeks to a few months, no more), some of the costs are in reality variable. Then if at the original break-even point average cost was increasing, the reduction of price will lead the firm to a lower quantity (where it will have lower average cost), that may even bring in profits. </p>

<p>And the "Law of Supply" refers <em>not</em> to the very short term, but rather to the mid- and long-term behavior.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-26T11:13:34.877Z
2017-10-26T13:49:38.723Z
2017-10-26T13:49:38.723Z
Alecos Papadopoulos
<p>The law of supply shows a positive relationship between price and quantity 
However, a firm producing at break even level of output would have to increase the quantity supplied if the price of the commodity goes down in order to break even.
Does that mean that a firm producing at break even level is an exception to the law or that the analysis contradicts the law of supply ? ( please correct me if there are any inconsistencies in the logic) </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-26T06:51:05.353Z
This question might help you understanding better the law of supply: https://economics.stackexchange.com/questions/12824/why-does-quantity-supplied-increase-with-price-in-economics?rq=1
JoaoBotelho
<microeconomics>
Does the break even analysis contradict the law of supply?
HN17
# Does the break even analysis contradict the law of supply?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-26)

The law of supply shows a positive relationship between price and quantity
However, a firm producing at break even level of output would have to increase the quantity supplied if the price of the commodity goes down in order to break even.
Does that mean that a firm producing at break even level is an exception to the law or that the analysis contradicts the law of supply ? ( please correct me if there are any inconsistencies in the logic)

**Tags:** microeconomics

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This question might help you understanding better the law of supply: https://economics.stackexchange.com/questions/12824/why-does-quantity-supplied-increase-with-price-in-economics?rq=1  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-10-26. Score: 2

The short answer is **no.**

The [law of supply](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_supply) only states that increases in price result in higher quantities supplied, ceteris paribus. Break even is the point where Revenue = Costs.

Your confusion might come from this sentence:

> a firm producing at break even level of output would have to increase the quantity supplied if the price of the commodity goes down in order to break even.

If the price lowers, the firm will reduce its quantity supplied. That's it. The specific quantity depends on the variable and fixed costs.
It's not mentioned that the company has to break even - think of a monopolist for example.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So does that mean that a firm already producing at break even level of output would reduce the quantity supplied even though that leads it further away from breaking even ? Please clarify what would a firm producing at break even level of output would do if the price goes down  
> **username_2**: @username_0 the price change affects the break even point. If the price goes up it can afford to produce more before breaking even as it would be making profit if it doesn't increase quantity. If the price goes down it will be losing money if it produces the same amount, so it will produce less (worst case, 0 if it exists the market due to inability to break even with the new price)  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-10-26. Score: 1

The logic of the OP implies that *all costs are fixed*. In the very short-term one could say that this holds for many firms: a firm cannot leave rented buildings immediately, it can not fire employees immediately etc. Namely "costs" have the form of financial commitments.

But in the mid term (and I am talking a few weeks to a few months, no more), some of the costs are in reality variable. Then if at the original break-even point average cost was increasing, the reduction of price will lead the firm to a lower quantity (where it will have lower average cost), that may even bring in profits.

And the "Law of Supply" refers *not* to the very short term, but rather to the mid- and long-term behavior.


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