Chapter 1: Problem 42

What is the law of diminishing returns? Give an example of its operation.

Short Answer

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The law of diminishing returns is an economic principle stating that as successive units of a variable factor (such as labor) are added to a production process while keeping other factors (like capital or technology) constant, the marginal product attributed to each additional unit will eventually decrease. In a small wheat farm scenario, as more workers are added, the marginal product for each worker decreases due to limited resources such as land and machinery. This demonstrates the law of diminishing returns in action, where each additional worker produces a smaller increase in output.

Step by step solution

Definition of the Law of Diminishing Returns

The law of diminishing returns is an economic principle that states that as successive units of a variable factor (like labor) are added to a production process while keeping other factors (like capital or technology) constant, the marginal product (or additional output) attributed to each additional unit will eventually decrease.

Example Scenario

Imagine a small farm that produces wheat. The farm has a fixed amount of land and machinery but can hire more workers to increase the output. We will analyze how the addition of workers affects the total output of wheat production at the farm.

Finding the Marginal Product

The marginal product is the increase in output resulting from the addition of one extra unit of input, in this case, labor. To calculate the marginal product, we need to compare the total output before and after adding a worker. The equation for the marginal product (MP) of labor is as follows: MP = (Total Output with n workers) - (Total Output with (n-1) workers)

Applying the Law of Diminishing Returns

As we add more workers to the farm and calculate the marginal product for each additional worker, we should start seeing a decline in the marginal product. This is a demonstration of the law of diminishing returns. Below is an example: 1. 1 worker: MP = \(20 - 0 = 20\) bushels 2. 2 workers: MP = \(38 - 20 = 18\) bushels 3. 3 workers: MP = \(54 - 38 = 16\) bushels 4. 4 workers: MP = \(65 - 54 = 11\) bushels 5. 5 workers: MP = \(70 - 65 = 5\) bushels As we can see, the marginal product for each worker added is decreasing each time, demonstrating the law of diminishing returns in action.

Explanation for the Law of Diminishing Returns

The law of diminishing returns can be explained with the idea that as more workers are added while keeping other resources constant, the additional workers will have less and less impact on the production process. This is because they must share the same fixed resources such as land and machinery. As a result, each additional worker will produce a smaller increase in output than the previous worker, demonstrating the diminishing returns effect.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Marginal Product

Marginal product (MP) is a vital concept in the field of economics that refers to the additional output that results from using one more unit of a variable input, such as labor or raw materials, in the production process. It's often used to measure the productivity and efficiency of inputs in generating outputs. Simply put, if you’re making hats, the marginal product of labor would be the number of extra hats made by hiring an extra worker, assuming all else stays the same.

Calculating marginal product is straightforward. For example, if you have a factory that produces 100 gadgets with five workers and find that it produces 110 gadgets with six workers, the MP of the sixth worker is 10 gadgets. The MP can initially increase with additional labor due to better utilization of fixed assets or specialization, but after a certain point, it usually decreases. This phenomenon is closely tied to the economic principle known as the law of diminishing returns.

Understanding MP helps businesses in making decisions about resource allocation. Knowing when additional units of labor or materials stop being as beneficial is crucial for optimizing production and reducing waste.

Economic Principle

An economic principle is a widely accepted generalization about the economic behavior of individuals or institutions. These principles are foundational to economic theory and guide our understanding of the production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services. One such principle is the law of diminishing returns, which has significant implications for businesses and economies at large.

In the context of the law of diminishing returns, the principle reveals a point at which adding an additional factor of production results in a smaller increase in output. This principle aids in explaining economic realities such as why farmers may choose not use their entire plot of land or why companies might limit their number of employees.

Understanding the economic principles allows us to anticipate changes in production dynamics and create more informed economic policies. By recognizing the inherent limits of input utility, companies and policymakers can strive for more efficient use of resources and adjust strategies accordingly to maintain economic sustainability.

Variable Factors in Production

Variable factors in production are inputs that can be adjusted in the short term to influence the output level, such as labor, raw materials, and energy consumption. Unlike fixed factors, like factory buildings or heavy machinery, which remain constant regardless of the output level, variable factors can be modified based on the production requirements.

In the short run, varying these factors can efficiently increase production. For instance, if a bakery needs more bread due to higher demand, it could use more flour and hire extra bakers (variable factors) for increased production, while the oven (a fixed factor) remains the same. However, as per the law of diminishing returns, there's a limit to how much production can be increased by adding more of the variable factors, especially when fixed factors cannot change to accommodate the increase.

Recognizing the distinction between fixed and variable factors is both important for managing short-term production and for long-term strategic planning. Businesses must carefully manage their variable factors to optimize production without hitting the point of diminishing returns, leading to inefficient operations and increased costs.