The law of variable proportion

LAW OF VARIABLE PROPORTION. The law of variable proportion, also known as the law of diminishing marginal productivity states that if one factor of production is continuously increased by a constant amount,

while other factors are held fixed in quantity, then, after a certain point, the resulting increases in output will begin to diminish.

 In other words, the law of variable proportions holds that if increasing quantities of one factor are combined with a fixed supply of others in production, a point is reached from which each extra variable factor added yields less and less addition to the total output.

That is as more and more of the variable factor is combined with a fixed quantity of other factors, ultimately, its average product and marginal product will begin to decrease.

This can be explained by stating that the fall off in extra additions to output do occur because each extra dose of the variable factor must now work with decreasing proportions of the fixed factors.

 It must be understood that this fall off does not happen abruptly. As the variable input increased, the more natural outcome is that the increments to product will initially increase, then remain constant, and finally, begin to decrease, thereby given rise to:

 1. Increasing returns, 2 returns, and 3. Diminishing returns

Increasing

 returns
increasing returns experienced at stage 1. As more variable factor, labour in this case, are used, total product begins to increase, the average increases to its maximum, while the product attains a maximum and then

Constant returns

From table 22.3, constant returns are experienced at stage 2. The total product rises to its peak, the average product begins, and the marginal product reduces towards zero.

Diminishing returns

diminishing experienced in stage 3. At this stage total and average product fall towards zero

while the marginal product becomes having fallen below the horizontal axis, if shown graphically.

 it becomes very clear that constant returns is merely a transitory stage being encountered as output shifts from the still highly temporary stage of increasing returns to the more dominant and diminishing returns.

Importance of the law of variable proportions

The law of variable proportions is useful in the wing ways As business houses are assumed to be out to raise their profits to a maximum, it helps the entrepreneur to determine the optimal combination of factors to achieve this objective.

It becomes in very useful in fixing a worker’s wages, since a worker ought to be paid according to his marginal productivity.

A firm grasp of the law of variable proportions is essential to understand short-run cost curves and hence, the short-run theory of the firm.

1. loans for businesses
2. how to establish enterprises
3. what is a firm
4. price equilibrium
5. scale of preference
6. concept of economics
7. economic tools for nation building
8. budgeting
9. factors affecting the expansion of industries
10. mineral resources and the mining industries

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62. RICE BLAST
63. MAIZE RUST
64. LEAF SPOT OF GROUNDNUT
65. COW-PEA MOSAIC
66. COCOA BLACK POD DISEASE