What is economic efficiency Essay Example
What is economic efficiency Essay Example

What is economic efficiency Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (963 words)
  • Published: June 1, 2018
  • Type: Essay
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Economic efficiency refers to the effective utilization of scarce resources in an economic system to meet the highest level of wants. When resources are optimally utilized, three types of efficiency are achieved: productive efficiency, allocative efficiency, and parato efficiency.

The term productive efficiency pertains to the optimal use of limited resources for a particular product's production. It is accomplished by augmenting the output quantity while reducing incurred costs. For example, providing bus services using the most economical buses, fuel and other required resources. This idea can be visualized on a graph that presents the total cost curves of an individual firm or an entire sector. The manufacturing process should occur at a point where expenses are minimized, guaranteeing maximum output through cost-efficient methods as shown below.

The cost curve rises afte

...

r reaching its lowest point because as production increases, more employees, machines, and time are required, thus increasing costs. On the graph, productive efficiency is achieved when the marginal cost (MC) equals the average cost (AC). However, to achieve full economic efficiency, it is not sufficient to produce goods and services at the lowest cost alone. Allocative efficiency involves producing products that are in highest demand by consumers considering their production costs. For example, if two buses, x and y, have the same production and running costs but bus x provides twice the satisfaction of bus y, bus x should be preferred for production and usage to achieve allocative efficiency. Similarly, if the train and taxi services both yield the same level of customer satisfaction but the train costs only half as much to produce and run compared to the taxi, providing the train service would be

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allocatively efficient. Allocative efficiency occurs when the selling price (P) of a product matches its marginal cost of production (MC).

The consumer's payment should accurately mirror the genuine economic expense of manufacturing the final product to ensure its adequate production. This is demonstrated by the rule that marginal benefit must consistently surpass marginal cost. However, in monopoly scenarios where P>MC, consumers bear a higher cost for the commodity than its production value, causing underconsumption. Conversely, if P<MC, consumers pay less than what it costs to produce the item resulting in overconsumption. Both cases culminate in allocative inefficiency.
Pareto efficiency comes into play when it becomes impossible to enhance the condition of one individual without detrimentally affecting another person. When Pareto efficiency is prevailing, productive efficiency also exists since additional production isn't possible with current resources.

It also implies that allocative efficiency exists because if it didn't then it may be possible to swap production in such a way that consumers can be made better off without necessarily having to make someone else worse off. Economic efficiency can be shown on the PPF. Point a is productive efficient because all resources are being used and it is not possible to increase the production of either product. This is contrasted with point b where it is possible to increase production with the limited resources available. Point a can also be considered Pareto efficient as it is only possible to increase the production of one product by reducing the production of another, thus making someone worse off. This is not the case for point b where it is possible to increase the production of either product without sacrificing the production of

any other product. If people value product x more than product y, then point c will be allocatively efficient instead of point d. It is unlikely that points e and f will be allocatively efficient as most economies will not want to allocate all of their resources to producing just one type of good or service.

Static efficiency is a broad concept that includes various forms of efficiency, such as point-in-time efficiency. It does not take into account continual shifts in the economic landscape like technological advancements, changes in production methods or end products, and overall economic growth. In contrast, dynamic efficiency deals with resource distribution over a duration of time. It emerges from improvements in production techniques, enhancements to existing goods, and the launch and marketing of new items.

Historically speaking, economists have argued that high degrees of competition among companies are essential for a market to function efficiently. In a competitive transportation sector scenario, companies are encouraged to provide services at the most minimal cost feasible which leads to productive efficiency. If an enterprise can manufacture at lower costs than its rivals it will yield higher earnings. Not being able to sustain low expenses could result in business closure because the company either cannot keep up with competitive pricing or incurs losses when attempting to do so.

Within competitive transportation sectors, companies must supply the services that customers require to optimize their earnings. The cost incurred in manufacturing a particular unit of output is equivalent to the price paid in the market, this is referred to as the marginal cost of production. A free and open market promotes Pareto efficiency as well, implying that individuals only

participate in trading if they foresee mutual benefits. In such a marketplace, transactions that are advantageous for all parties involved will take place since no one would willingly partake in a trade unless they anticipate personal gain. Moreover, it's unfeasible to enhance one party's circumstances without adversely impacting another within this type of market.

Nevertheless, some economists advocate that in specific circumstances, firms with less rivalry might indeed deliver more advantages to consumers, regardless of their economic efficiency. To encapsulate this viewpoint, one could state that markets attain financial efficacy when resources are optimally exploited; products and services coincide with consumer demands and manufactured at the minimal average cost feasible; and entities and businesses reap maximum benefits from their resources.

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