välinpitämättömyyskäyrä

Välinpitämättömyyskäyrä, known in English as the indifference curve, is a graphical representation of consumer preferences in microeconomics. It illustrates combinations of two goods that yield the same level of utility or satisfaction for a consumer. Each point on a single indifference curve represents a basket of goods that the consumer considers equally desirable.

Indifference curves are typically convex to the origin, reflecting the principle of diminishing marginal rate of substitution. This means that as a consumer has more of one good, they are willing to give up less of the other good to obtain an additional unit of the first. Consumers are assumed to prefer combinations that lie on higher indifference curves, as these represent greater overall utility.

The slope of the indifference curve at any given point is the marginal rate of substitution (MRS) between the two goods. The MRS indicates the rate at which a consumer is willing to trade one good for another while maintaining the same level of satisfaction. Indifference curves for the same consumer cannot intersect. If they did, it would imply a contradiction in their preferences. Indifference curves are a fundamental tool used in analyzing consumer behavior, budget constraints, and the derivation of demand curves.