PLANNING CURVE: Another term for the long-run average cost curve (LRAC). Using the name planning curve indicates that the long-run average cost curve is used to "making plans" especially concerning the desired scale of operations of a firm. That is, in the long run a firm will seek the plant size that maximizes long-run profit by equating long-run marginal cost and marginal revenue. It will then pick out the appropriate plant size off the long-run average cost with the minimum short-run average total cost. See also | long-run average cost curve | planning period | long-run marginal cost | marginal revenue | returns to scale | plant |
