Menu costs refer to the economic costs incurred by firms due to the process of changing prices. These costs are associated with updating and distributing new price lists or menus to customers, suppliers, and employees of the firm. The term "menu costs" originated from the analogy drawn between a restaurant menu and the price list or catalog of goods and services offered by a firm.
Firms incur menu costs when they need to adjust their prices to reflect changes in the market conditions, such as variations in demand, input costs, or inflation. These costs include the expenses associated with designing new price lists, printing, advertising, and distributing them to relevant stakeholders. Additionally, firms may also face costs related to training employees on new prices and dealing with customer confusion or complaints during the transition period.
Menu costs are especially relevant in a monopolistically competitive market where firms have the freedom to set their own prices. In such contexts, firms often need to modify prices more frequently to remain competitive. Menu costs act as a deterrent for firms to adjust prices frequently, as the costs associated with these price changes can outweigh the potential benefits.
Understanding menu costs is crucial for policymakers and economists, as it helps to explain price stickiness or the phenomenon where prices do not instantly adjust to changes in market conditions. By considering menu costs, economists can gain insights into the dynamics of price changes, inflation, and the overall efficiency of market operations.
The term "menu costs" originated in the field of economics. The word "menu" in this context refers to the list of prices and goods available in a restaurant or similar establishments.
The concept of menu costs was first introduced by American economist William A. Phillips in 1958 in his paper titled "The Relation between Unemployment and the Rate of Change of Money Wage Rates in the United Kingdom, 1861-1957". The term gained prominence when it was further developed by New Keynesian economists in the 1970s.
The word "costs" in "menu costs" refers to the expenses incurred by firms or businesses when they change or update their prices. Menu costs encompass various expenses involved in adjusting prices, including the cost of printing new menus, updating price tags, notifying customers, training employees, and so on.