📚 Learning Guide
Marginal Analysis and Social Optimality
easy

In the context of marginal analysis, which of the following best describes the point at which social optimality is achieved?

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Learning Path
Learning Path

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Choose the Best Answer

A

Marginal cost equals marginal benefit

B

Total cost is minimized

C

Average cost is minimized

D

Marginal revenue equals total revenue

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

In marginal analysis, social optimality is reached when the benefits of a good or service equal its costs. This means that the last unit produced provides just enough value to society to cover the resources used to make it. For example, if a factory produces widgets, social optimality occurs when the price people are willing to pay for the last widget matches the cost of producing that widget. At this point, resources are used efficiently, and society as a whole is not better off by making more or fewer widgets. Therefore, achieving social optimality ensures that resources are allocated in the most beneficial way for everyone involved.

Detailed Explanation

Social optimality happens when the extra cost of making one more unit equals the extra benefit it brings. Other options are incorrect because Some might think minimizing total cost means everything is perfect; Minimizing average cost sounds good, but it doesn’t ensure that each extra unit is worth the cost.

Key Concepts

optimization
Topic

Marginal Analysis and Social Optimality

Difficulty

easy level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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