what do marginal rates of technical substitution represent course hero

by Prof. Glennie McDermott Jr. 10 min read

The marginal rate of technical substitution ascertains the amount of cost which a specific input can be replaced for another resource of production while maintaining a constant output. Therefore, the marginal rate of technical substitution explains when a producer is planning to replace one input of production with the next one.

Full Answer

What does marginal rate of technical substitution represent?

The marginal rate of technical substitution shows the rate at which you can substitute one input, such as labor, for another input, such as capital, without changing the level of resulting output.

What is the marginal rate of technical substitution quizlet?

The marginal rate of technical substitution is the rate at which a firm can substitute between the two inputs while maintaining the same level of output. It is the absolute value of the slope of the isoquant and it is the ratio of the marginal products.

What is marginal rate of technical substitution example?

A decline in the MRTS along an isoquant is called a diminishing marginal rate of technical substitution. For example, a firm plots out a graph of capital and labor. Moving from point A to point B means reducing labor by 1 to increase capital by 4.

What does a MRTS mean it means that if the input on the horizontal axis is increased by one unit then the input on the vertical axis?

The MRTS gives the amount by which the quantity of one input can be reduced when one extra unit of another input is used, so that output remains constant. It means that if the input on the horizontal axis is increased by one unit, then the input on the vertical axis DECREASES by 5 units and output will NOT CHANGE.

What is the marginal rate of technical substitution How does it relate to the isoquant curve?

Marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTS) is the rate at which a firm can substitute capital with labor. It equals the change in capital to change in labor which in turn equals the ratio of marginal product of labor to marginal product of capital. MRTS equals the slope of an isoquant.

What do you mean by MRS in economics?

marginal rate of substitutionIn economics, the marginal rate of substitution (MRS) is the amount of a good that a consumer is willing to consume compared to another good, as long as the new good is equally satisfying. MRS is used in indifference theory to analyze consumer behavior.

What is marginal rate of technical substitution PDF?

The marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTS) is an economic theory that describes the rate at which one factor will decrease to be able to maintain the same level of efficiency when another factor rises.

What is MRTS Wikipedia?

The abbreviation MRTS is most commonly used to refer to Mass Rapid Transit System. The abbreviation MRTS may also refer to: Magnetic Reversal Time Scale, a geological term.

What does the marginal rate of technical substitution of labor for capital measures?

The marginal rate of technical substitution (of labor for capital) is the rate at which capital can be reduced for every one unit increase in labor, and keeping output constant. It is defined as the absolute value of slope of the isoquant drawn with labor on the horizontal axis, and capital on the vertical axis.

Why is marginal rate of technical substitution diminishing?

The marginal rate of technical substitution diminishes when the producer keeps on substituting one resource of production with another input of production.

How do you calculate marginal rate of technical substitution from production function?

0:064:43How to Solve for the MRTS: Five Examples - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIs going to be another partial derivative and in this case it's just four the marginal rate ofMoreIs going to be another partial derivative and in this case it's just four the marginal rate of technical substitution is the ratio of the marginal products of labor.

Which of the following is the best explanation for why the marginal product marginal returns to variable inputs will eventually diminish in the short run?

Why does production eventually experience diminishing marginal returns to labor in the short​ run? Since at least one factor of production is fixed in the short​ run, as more and more workers must share the fixed​ factors, the marginal product of each additional worker will eventually decrease.

What is marginal rate of technical substitution?

The marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTS) is an economic theory that illustrates the rate at which one factor must decrease so that the same level of productivity can be maintained when another factor is increased. The MRTS reflects the give-and-take between factors, such as capital and labor, that allow a firm to maintain ...

How does MRTS differ from MRS?

MRTS differs from the marginal rate of substitution (MRS) because MRTS is focused on producer equilibrium and MRS is focused on consumer equilibrium.

Where did Robert Kelly get his masters?

He received his Master of Arts in economics at The New School for Social Research. He earned his Master of Arts and his Doctor of Philosophy in English literature at New York University. Robert Kelly is a graduate school lecturer and has been developing and investing in energy projects for more than 35 years.

Definition

Prof. R.G.D. Alien and J.R. Hicks introduced the concept of MRS ( marginal rate of substitution) in the theory of demand. The similar concept is used in the explanation of producers equilibrium and is named as marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTS).

Formula

It means that the marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTSLK) of labor (L) and capital (K), is the number of units of capital (K) which can be substituted by one unit of labor (L) keeping the same level of output.

Example

For example, if 2 units of factor capital (K) can be replaced by 1 unit of labor (L), marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTS) will be thus:

Table

It is clear from the above table that all the five different combinations of labor and capital that are; A, B, C, D and E yield the same level of output of 150 units of commodity X.

Diagram

In the diagram 12.8, all the five combinations of labor and capital which are A, B, C, D and E are plotted on a graph. The points A, B, C, D and E are joined to form an isoquant. The ISO product curve shows the whole range of factor combinations producing 150 units of commodity X.

Diminishing Marginal Rate of Technical Substitution

The decline in MRTS along an isoquant for producing the same level of output is named as diminishing marginal rates of technical substitution. As we have seen in Fig. 12.8, that when a firm moves down from point (a) to point (b) and it hires one more labor, the firm gives up 4 units of capital (K) and yet remains on the same isoquant at point (b).