Title: Balancing Research and Revenue: A Microeconomic Dilemma

Background:

The University of Victoria's research lab, known for its groundbreaking work in profiling cancer cell proteins, is facing a unique opportunity. A local brewery, Philips, offers the lab $70,000/year to apply their protein profiling techniques to improve the craft brewing process. The government grant for cancer research is $50,000/year, with operating costs at $30,000.

Financial Data:

Government grant for cancer research: $50,000/year

Operating costs for cancer research lab: $30,000/year

Offer from Philips brewery for beer research: $70,000/year

Additional operating costs if lab chooses beer research: $5,000/year

Graphs/Charts:

A hypothetical supply and demand curve showing the market for research funding.

Profit maximization graph indicating total revenue and total cost.

Market Conditions:

Current trends in funding for cancer research and brewing industry.

Demand for innovation in cancer treatment and craft brewing.

Historical Context:

Previous funding decisions and research outcomes of the lab.

Long-term relationships with funding bodies and industry partners.

Academic Mission:

The university's stated priorities in research impact, innovation, and community partnerships.

Ethical Considerations:

Impact of research on public health vs. commercial benefits.

Long-term implications of prioritizing one research area over another.

Questions:

Calculate the opportunity cost of continuing cancer research versus taking up the brewery's offer. Discuss the implicit and explicit costs involved.

Which option should the lab choose if their goal is to maximize economic profit? Justify your answer with a cost-benefit analysis.

If the lab chooses to conduct research for the brewery, what is their total economic profit?

Suppose an entity offers the lab an additional $30,000 to halt cancer research. What is the opportunity cost now of not conducting cancer research?

What would be the minimum amount the government must provide to ensure the lab continues with cancer research?

Discuss why the lab would demand a higher compensation from the government for the same research they were already conducting. What does this tell us about opportunity costs and their effect on wages?

Additional Considerations:

Reflect on how the principles of opportunity cost and economic profit apply to the academic world. Consider the salaries of professors who could earn more in the private sector, and how universities must compete with industry salaries to attract talent.

Instructions:

Provide answers with explanations using microeconomic theories. Where applicable, illustrate your points with diagrams. The analysis should not only quantify costs and benefits but also consider the qualitative aspects of the decision-making process.

This case study incorporates key microeconomic concepts such as opportunity costs, economic profit, and decision-making under scarcity. It is designed to challenge students to apply theoretical knowledge to a practical situation, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills.