Határelv

Határelv, often translated as marginalism or the principle of marginal utility, is a fundamental concept in economics. It refers to the analysis of the effects of incremental changes on economic variables. Instead of looking at the total or average effects, the határelv focuses on the additional benefit or cost incurred by consuming one more unit of a good or service, or by undertaking one more unit of an activity.

The core idea is that decisions are made at the margin. For example, a consumer decides whether to buy an additional item based on the extra satisfaction (marginal utility) they expect to gain compared to the extra cost (marginal price). Similarly, a producer decides whether to produce one more unit based on the additional revenue (marginal revenue) versus the additional cost (marginal cost).

The law of diminishing marginal utility is a key component of the határelv. It states that as a person consumes more of a good, the additional satisfaction they derive from each extra unit tends to decrease. This principle helps explain demand curves, as consumers are willing to pay less for subsequent units of a good.

The határelv is crucial for understanding how individuals and firms make rational choices in the face of scarcity. It underpins many economic models and helps explain phenomena such as price determination, resource allocation, and optimal production levels. The focus on incremental adjustments provides a more nuanced understanding of economic behavior than approaches that consider only aggregate or average quantities.