LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS
law of diminishing return states that as successive units of a variable factor (e.g. land), output will increase at first but it will get to a point at which the addition of one more unit of the variable factor will result in less additional units of output
Explain the law of diminishing return
The law of diminishing returns, sometimes called the law of variable proportions, is applicable to both the agricultural and industrial sectors that use both the fixed and variable factors of production.
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Application of the law of diminishing return
The law of diminishing returns can be illustrated using. the table representing the quantity of yam produced by Mr. Kola Balogun in his one hectare farm.
illustrating law of diminishing return on yam production
Fixed factor (Land)important uses of land
Labour Unit (Variable Factor)
Total Output (kg)
Average Output (kg)
Marginal Output (kg)
what is Average Output and Marginal Output in law diminishing return
As Mr. Kola Balogun employs one labour to work on his one hectare farm, 10 tons of yam were produced. As more and more labour are employed in every successive round of production, the total output continues to increase from 10 to 30, to 60, to 120 and so on.
But as the fifth (5th) labour was used or employed, there was a drop in production from 120 to 100. This is the stage at which the law of diminishing returns sets in as every additional unit of labour brings about a decrease in the total output–law of diminishing return
Importance of the law of diminishing returns
Proper combination of factors of production: The law of diminishing returns helps the entrepreneur to combine properly the factors of production to prevent wastage which could lead to law of diminishing return
Changes in scale of production: The law of diminishing returns helps entrepreneurs to change the scale of production through the variation of the quantities of all input can trigger law of diminishing return
It ensures efficiency: As more and more variable factors are added to a fixed factor, it eventually comes to a profitable level and productivity and efficiency are maintained using labour requires little or no formal education. read more on skilled and unskilled labour here
They do not use mental effort,
rather, they make use of physical effort or energy in production, hence their jobs are popularly referred to as brown collar jobs.
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