What are internal diseconomies of scale?

Internal diseconomies of scale refer to the phenomenon where a company's average costs begin to increase as it expands beyond an optimal size. This typically occurs due to factors such as increased complexity in management, challenges in communication, and operational inefficiencies that arise when a firm becomes too large.

As a firm grows, the benefits of mass production may diminish, leading to higher average costs. For example, coordination difficulties among departments can result in delays or mistakes, contributing to inefficiency. In addition, larger firms may face bureaucratic hurdles that slow down decision-making processes and reduce incentive structures for employees, ultimately resulting in higher average costs.

The other choices refer to either benefits of scale, which do not describe diseconomies, or elements unrelated to the concept of internal diseconomies. Hence, identifying the point at which average costs start to rise as a firm expands is crucial in understanding internal diseconomies of scale.