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Delete unnecessary words.
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Adam Bailey
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To keep things simple, let's assume that inputs to production other than capital goods are constant over time, and that production technology is regarded as one of those inputs (ie there is no technical progress). Let's also assume that the production function is such that output (across the whole range of the production possibility frontier) is an increasing function of capital when other inputs are constant: in symbols $\partial{Y}/\partial{K}>0$.

The question then is whether capital and therefore output can increase given the country's "preference for more consumer goods than capital goods". If this simply means that its chosen output combination includes a higher proportion of consumer goods than capital goods, then that is certainly possible. Suppose for example that output consists of $80\%$ consumer goods and $20\%$ capital goods, that the annual capital-output ratio is $2$, and that $5\%$ of capital is lost each year due to wear and tear. Then the annual loss of capital due to wear and tear is $2 \times 5\% = 10\%$ of output, and capital goods increase each year by $20\% - 10\% = 10\%$ per annum. Thus the production-possibility frontier would expand outwards.

If however the country's preference implies that output contains less than $10\%$ of capital goods, then (on the above assumptions) the production possibility frontier would contract inwards over time.

Note that the above takes no account of the fact that, in practice, capital goods are not infinitely malleable, that is, the production of different goods requires different sorts of capital goods. One might pursue that point by considering how a country's preference for consumer goods might influence its choice of what sort of capital goods to produce (if indeed it produces any).

To keep things simple, let's assume that inputs to production other than capital goods are constant over time, and that production technology is regarded as one of those inputs (ie there is no technical progress). Let's also assume that the production function is such that output (across the whole range of the production possibility frontier) is an increasing function of capital when other inputs are constant: in symbols $\partial{Y}/\partial{K}>0$.

The question then is whether capital and therefore output can increase given the country's "preference for more consumer goods than capital goods". If this simply means that its chosen output combination includes a higher proportion of consumer goods than capital goods, then that is certainly possible. Suppose for example that output consists of $80\%$ consumer goods and $20\%$ capital goods, that the annual capital-output ratio is $2$, and that $5\%$ of capital is lost each year due to wear and tear. Then the annual loss of capital due to wear and tear is $2 \times 5\% = 10\%$ of output, and capital goods increase each year by $20\% - 10\% = 10\%$ per annum. Thus the production-possibility frontier would expand outwards.

If however the country's preference implies that output contains less than $10\%$ of capital goods, then (on the above assumptions) the production possibility frontier would contract inwards over time.

Note that the above takes no account of the fact that, in practice, capital goods are not infinitely malleable, that is, the production of different goods requires different sorts of capital goods. One might pursue that point by considering how a country's preference for consumer goods might influence its choice of what sort of capital goods to produce (if indeed it produces any).

To keep things simple, let's assume that inputs to production other than capital goods are constant over time, and that production technology is regarded as one of those inputs (ie there is no technical progress). Let's also assume that the production function is such that output (across the whole range of the production possibility frontier) is an increasing function of capital when other inputs are constant: in symbols $\partial{Y}/\partial{K}>0$.

The question then is whether capital and therefore output can increase given the country's "preference for more consumer goods than capital goods". If this simply means that its chosen output combination includes a higher proportion of consumer goods than capital goods, then that is certainly possible. Suppose for example that output consists of $80\%$ consumer goods and $20\%$ capital goods, that the annual capital-output ratio is $2$, and that $5\%$ of capital is lost each year due to wear and tear. Then the annual loss of capital due to wear and tear is $2 \times 5\% = 10\%$ of output, and capital goods increase each year by $20\% - 10\% = 10\%$. Thus the production-possibility frontier would expand outwards.

If however the country's preference implies that output contains less than $10\%$ of capital goods, then (on the above assumptions) the production possibility frontier would contract inwards over time.

Note that the above takes no account of the fact that, in practice, capital goods are not infinitely malleable, that is, the production of different goods requires different sorts of capital goods. One might pursue that point by considering how a country's preference for consumer goods might influence its choice of what sort of capital goods to produce (if indeed it produces any).

Source Link
Adam Bailey
  • 8.8k
  • 1
  • 23
  • 38

To keep things simple, let's assume that inputs to production other than capital goods are constant over time, and that production technology is regarded as one of those inputs (ie there is no technical progress). Let's also assume that the production function is such that output (across the whole range of the production possibility frontier) is an increasing function of capital when other inputs are constant: in symbols $\partial{Y}/\partial{K}>0$.

The question then is whether capital and therefore output can increase given the country's "preference for more consumer goods than capital goods". If this simply means that its chosen output combination includes a higher proportion of consumer goods than capital goods, then that is certainly possible. Suppose for example that output consists of $80\%$ consumer goods and $20\%$ capital goods, that the annual capital-output ratio is $2$, and that $5\%$ of capital is lost each year due to wear and tear. Then the annual loss of capital due to wear and tear is $2 \times 5\% = 10\%$ of output, and capital goods increase each year by $20\% - 10\% = 10\%$ per annum. Thus the production-possibility frontier would expand outwards.

If however the country's preference implies that output contains less than $10\%$ of capital goods, then (on the above assumptions) the production possibility frontier would contract inwards over time.

Note that the above takes no account of the fact that, in practice, capital goods are not infinitely malleable, that is, the production of different goods requires different sorts of capital goods. One might pursue that point by considering how a country's preference for consumer goods might influence its choice of what sort of capital goods to produce (if indeed it produces any).