Explain the relationship between total revenue and marginal revenue wi...
Marginal revenue measures the change in revenue that results from a change in the amount of goods or services sold. It indicates how much revenue increases for selling an additional unit of a good or service. To calculate marginal revenue, divide the change in total revenue by the change in the quantity sold.
This question is part of UPSC exam. View all Commerce courses
Explain the relationship between total revenue and marginal revenue wi...
Total Revenue and Marginal Revenue Relationship:
Introduction:
Total revenue and marginal revenue are important concepts in microeconomics that help analyze the revenue generation and profitability of a firm. Understanding the relationship between these two concepts can provide insights into decision-making processes regarding pricing and production levels.
Total Revenue:
Total revenue refers to the overall income a firm generates from selling its products or services. It is calculated by multiplying the quantity of goods or services sold (Q) by the price per unit (P). Mathematically, it can be represented as TR = P * Q.
Marginal Revenue:
Marginal revenue, on the other hand, refers to the change in total revenue resulting from selling one additional unit of a product or service. It can be calculated by finding the difference between the total revenue of two consecutive levels of output. Mathematically, it can be represented as MR = ΔTR/ΔQ, where ΔTR represents the change in total revenue and ΔQ represents the change in quantity.
The Relationship:
The relationship between total revenue and marginal revenue can be understood through a diagram known as the Total Revenue-Marginal Revenue diagram.
Diagram:
In the diagram, the x-axis represents the quantity of output (Q) and the y-axis represents the revenue (TR and MR). The total revenue curve starts from the origin and slopes upward, reflecting the positive relationship between quantity and total revenue. The marginal revenue curve, on the other hand, intersects the x-axis at the origin and slopes downward.
Explanation:
- Initially, when a firm increases its output, the total revenue also increases at an increasing rate. This is because the firm can sell additional units at the prevailing market price, resulting in a higher total revenue.
- As output continues to increase, the marginal revenue starts to decline. This is due to the law of diminishing returns, where each additional unit sold contributes less to total revenue than the previous unit.
- Eventually, when the firm reaches a certain level of output, the marginal revenue becomes zero. This occurs when the firm has maximized its revenue and any additional unit sold would result in a decrease in total revenue.
- Beyond this point, if the firm increases its output further, the marginal revenue becomes negative. This means that selling additional units would reduce the total revenue, indicating that the firm is now operating in an inefficient range.
Conclusion:
In summary, the relationship between total revenue and marginal revenue can be depicted through a diagram. Initially, total revenue increases at an increasing rate, while marginal revenue declines. Eventually, marginal revenue reaches zero, indicating the maximum revenue point. Understanding this relationship is essential for firms to optimize their pricing and production decisions for maximizing profitability.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed Commerce study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in Commerce.