The concept of average product and marginal product is central to the study of economics and is used to measure the productivity of a firm or an individual. These concepts are closely related but have some important differences, which are explained below.
Average product is a measure of the average output per unit of a variable input, such as labor or capital. It is calculated by dividing the total output by the quantity of the variable input used. For example, if a firm produces 100 units of output using 10 units of labor, the average product of labor is 10 units of output per unit of labor.
Marginal product, on the other hand, is the additional output that is generated by using one more unit of a variable input. It is the increase in total output that results from a one-unit increase in the quantity of the variable input. For example, if a firm produces 10 more units of output by using one additional unit of labor, the marginal product of labor is 10 units of output.
One of the main differences between average product and marginal product is that average product decreases as the quantity of the variable input increases, while marginal product may increase or decrease depending on the stage of production. In the short run, when at least one input is fixed, marginal product may initially increase but eventually start to decline as the firm reaches the point of diminishing returns. In the long run, when all inputs are variable, marginal product may increase or decrease depending on the technology and other factors.
Another difference between average product and marginal product is that average product is a measure of average productivity, while marginal product is a measure of incremental productivity. Average product reflects the overall efficiency of the firm or individual in using the inputs to produce output, while marginal product reflects the change in productivity resulting from a change in the quantity of the input.
In summary, average product is a measure of average output per unit of a variable input, while marginal product is the additional output resulting from a one-unit increase in the quantity of the input. These concepts are important tools for analyzing the productivity of a firm or individual and for making decisions about the allocation of resources.