A production possibility curve (PPC) is a graphical or diagrammatic illustration of all possible bundles or combinations of two types of goods which a society can produce using its present level of resources and given the existing level of technology.
The idea behind the production possibility curve is that in order to produce a particular commodity, the production of another commodity has to be sacrificed.
For example, the production possibility curves for the production of cattle and motor vehicles in South Africa.
Production Possibility Table for The Production of Cattle and Motor vehicles by South Africa
Possible combination head of cattle no of motor vehicles
A 200 0
B 170 30
C 100 70
D 80 130
E 40 150
F 0 180
The table shows the alternative open to South Africa to substitute the production of cattle for vehicle on a monthly basis, assuming a given state of technology and a given total of resources.
Production Possibility curve for the Production of cattle and motor vehicle in South Africa.
INTERPRETATION OR POINTS TO NOT FROM THE GRAPH
- Points A to F on the graph indicate efficient use of resources
- At points O and P (outside the curve), production is not feasible. Production of these points is not feasible due to the limited resources and technology.
- At point K and L (inside the curve), production is feasible. It represents where resources are not efficiently utilized.
- The downward slope of the PPC indicate that there is an opportunity cost of producing more of one type of commodity and less of the other due to limited resources and technical know how
LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS OR VARIALBE PROPORTION
This law refers to a short run production situation. The law of diminishing returns states that as more of the variable factor (e.g. labour or capital) is added to other factors which are constant (e.g. land), outputs will eventually increase at a decreasing rate.
The law of diminishing returns follows three stages, these are;
- Increasing returns
- Constant returns
- Decreasing returns
CONCEPT OF TOTAL PRODUCT (TP), AVERAGE PRODUCT (AP) AND MARGINAL PRODUCT (MP)
- TOTAL PRODUCT (TP): Total product refers to the total quantity of goods produced at a particular time as a result of the use of all the factors of production.
Symbolically written as TP = AP X Q
total Point of diminishing returns
output TP
- AVERAGE PRODUCT (AP): Average product is defined as the output per unit of the variable factor (labour or capital) employed. This is obtained by dividing the total output by the number of labour or capital employed.Symbolically written as AP:TP/Q
Y
AP
AP
3.MAGINAL PRODUCT (MP): This is the additional product produced as a result of the application of additional unit of a variable factor when all other factors are fixed.
MP
Unit of labour
MP
Symbolically written as MP = CHANGE IN TP/CHANGE IN VARIABLE FACTOR =
TP1 – TPO
Q1 –QO
TOTAL PRODUCT, AVERAGE PRODUCT AND MARGINAL PRODUCT
VARIABLE UNIT FIXED FACTOR TOTAL PRODUCT AVERAGE PRODUCT MARGINAL PRODUCT
OF LABOUR hectares of land (Kg) (Kg) (kg)
1 3 8 8 ……
2 3 18 9 10
3 3 36 12 18
4 3 48 12 12
5 3 55 11 7
6 3 60 10 5
7 3 60 86 0
8 3 56 7 -4
RELATIONSHIP BETWEENTOTAL PRODUCT, AVERAGE PRODUCT AND MARGINAL PRODUCT.
The relationship between total products, average product and marginal product can be demonstrated by a graph. Both TP and MP initially rise. The TP curve remains at maximum point when MP is zero. To declines after MP = 0 and MP afterwards assumes negative values.
QUESTIONS
- Write short note on (a) firm (b) plant (c) industry
Tonnes of fertilizer applied total product in bags marginal product
0 1000 …….
1 1100 100
2 1250 150
3 1500 250
4 …….. 400
5 …….. 250
6 ……. 125
7 2350 ……..
8 2380 ……..
9 2330 ……..
See also
ECONOMIC REFORM PROGRAMS | EFCC, ICPC, NAFDAC & SON
CURRENT ECONOMIC PLANS | MDGs, NEEDS & VISION 2020 (GOALS, VISIONS & OBJECTIVES)
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION | ECOWAS, IMF, IBRD, ADB, ECA, UNCTAD, EU
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT | CAUSES, SOLUTIONS, STATEGRIES, CHARACTERISTICS
LABOUR AS A FACTOR OF PRODUCTION