Respuesta :
Answer:
The answer is:
Lay-off workers in "low-tech facility" i.e. $12 per claim.
Explanation:
Step 1:
The total fixed cost:
It is the cost, that the producer has to bear irrespective of the level of production.
Total variable cost:
It is the cost that alters with the changes with the changes in the production level.
Step 2:
The insurance firm has two facilities for claim process:
1: High-tech facility - new
2: Low-tech facility - old
High-tech facility:
Claims handled in a month = 10,000
Fixed costs = $100,000
Variable costs = $100,000
Low-tech facility:
Claims handled in a month = 2,000
Fixed costs = $16,000
Variable costs = $24,000
Step 3:
The fixed costs have to be borne, because they are unavoidable, but the variable costs can be ignored.
In high-tech facility, average variable cost per claim = $100,000/10,000 = $10 per claim
In low-tech facility, average variable cost per claim = $24,000/2,000 = $12 per claim
Step 4:
Conclusion:
If there is a decrease in the number of claims, the workers should be laid-off in low-tech facility, because variable cost per claim is higher in low-tech facility i.e. $12 per claim.
This will help in reducing the costs.