It is the end of 2019. Ginnungagap Oy began operations in January 2018. The company is so named because it has no variable costs. All its costs are fixed; they do not vary with output. Ginnungagap is located on the bank of a river and has its own hydroelectric plant to supply power, light and heat. The company manufactures a synthetic fertiliser from air and river water and sells its product at a price that is not expected to change. It has a small staff of employees, all hired on a fixed annual salary. The output of the plant can be increased or decreased by adjusting a few dials on a control panel. 

The following are data regarding the operations of Ginnungagap Oy:

Required

1. Prepare income statements with one column for 2018, one column for 2019 and one column for the two years together, using   (a)variable costing and (b) absorption costing. 

2. What is the breakeven point under (a) variable costing and (b) absorption costing? 

3. What stock costs would be carried on the balance sheets at 31 December 2018 and 2019 under each method? 

4. Assume that the performance of the top manager of the company is evaluated and rewarded largely on the basis of reported operating profit. Which costing method would the manager prefer? Why?

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2018 2019* Sales (units) Production (units) Selling price per tonne Costs (all fixed): Manufacturing Marketing and administrative 10 000 10 000 20 000 €30 €30 €280 000 €280 000 €40 000 €40 000 * Management adopted the policy, effective from 1 January 2019, of producing only as much product as was needed to fill sales orders. During 2019, sales were the same as for 2018 and were filled entirely from stock at the start of 2019.