8 The market for fertiliser is perfectly competitive. Firms in the market are producing output but are currently incurring econom ic losses.

a How does the price of fertiliser compare to the average total cost, the average variable cost and the marginal cost of producing fertiliser?

b Draw two graphs, side by side, illustrating the present situation for the typical firm and for the market.

c Assuming there is no change in either demand or the firms' cost curves, explain what will happen in the long run to the price of fertiliser, marginal cost, average total cost, the quantity supplied by each firm and the total quantity supplied to the market.