The marginal technical rate of substitution (MTS) is a concept in economics that refers to the amount of one input that a firm is willing to give up in order to increase the usage of another input, while maintaining the same level of output. It is used to measure the efficiency of production, and it is an important factor in determining the optimal mix of inputs for a firm.
In order to understand the MTS, it is first necessary to understand the concept of diminishing marginal returns. Diminishing marginal returns occur when the marginal output of a production process begins to decrease as more of one input is used, while all other inputs are held constant. For example, if a farmer adds more labor to a field while keeping the amount of land and capital constant, the marginal output of the field will eventually start to decline. This is because the additional labor will not be able to increase the output as much as the previous units of labor did, due to the limited amount of land and capital available.
The MTS is related to diminishing marginal returns because it measures the rate at which one input can be substituted for another while maintaining the same level of output. For example, if a farmer is using a combination of labor and land to produce crops, the MTS will measure the amount of labor that can be given up in order to increase the amount of land used, while keeping the output constant. In general, the MTS will decline as more of one input is used, due to the diminishing marginal returns described above.
The MTS is an important concept in economics because it helps firms to determine the optimal mix of inputs for production. By understanding the MTS, a firm can determine the point at which it is no longer cost-effective to increase the usage of one input, and can instead focus on increasing the usage of another input in order to maximize efficiency and profits.
In conclusion, the marginal technical rate of substitution is a measure of the efficiency of production that helps firms to determine the optimal mix of inputs for production. It is related to the concept of diminishing marginal returns, and is an important factor in the decision-making process for firms looking to maximize efficiency and profits.