Why MRS is decline in IC curve
As a guide, the Marginal Rate of Substitution (MRS) is the amount of a good that a consumer is willing to give up for another good while maintaining the same level of satisfaction. When the MRS declines in an Indifference Curve (IC), it means that the consumer is willing to give up fewer units of one good for another good, while their satisfaction remains the same. Below are the reasons why the MRS is declining in an IC curve.
Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility
The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility states that as a consumer consumes more and more of a particular good, the marginal utility derived from each additional unit of the good decreases. This means that the consumer is willing to give up fewer units of a good for another good as they have already achieved a certain level of satisfaction or utility from the good they have already consumed. This leads to a decline in the MRS in the IC curve.
Substitution Effect
When the price of a particular good decreases, the consumer tends to substitute it for other goods that are relatively more expensive. This means that the consumer is willing to give up fewer units of a relatively cheaper good for another good. This leads to a decline in the MRS in the IC curve.
Income Effect
When the price of a particular good decreases, the consumer's purchasing power increases. This means that the consumer can afford to buy more of all goods, including the relatively more expensive good. This leads to an increase in the consumption of both goods, which leads to a decline in the MRS in the IC curve.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Marginal Rate of Substitution (MRS) is the amount of a good that a consumer is willing to give up for another good while maintaining the same level of satisfaction. The MRS declines in an Indifference Curve (IC) when the consumer is willing to give up fewer units of one good for another good, while their satisfaction remains the same. This happens due to the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility, Substitution Effect, and Income Effect.