12th Class Economics Solved Paper - Economics 2016 Outside Delhi Set-I

  • question_answer
    Explain three properties of indifference curves.

    Answer:

    Indifference curve: An indifference curve is a curve which shows all the combinations of two goods that give equal satisfaction to the consumer. Indifference curve shows consumers behaviour is indifference towards various combination of two goods because they give same level of satisfaction.
                Properties of indifference curve:
    (1) Indifference curve slopes down to the right. It implies that consumer is willing to give up some units of one commodity to get more units of another commodity so as to stay at the same level of satisfaction.
    (2) Higher Indifference curves represent higher level of satisfaction and indifference curve cannot meet or intersect. Two indifference curves can never intersects. In the diagram, point A and B lies on the same indifference curve \[I{{C}_{1}}\] giving same level of satisfaction while point A and C also lie on the same indifference curves \[I{{C}_{2}}\] giving same level of satisfaction. This implies that combination B and C should also give same level of satisfaction, but this is not possible because combinations C lies on the higher indifference curve than B.
    (3) Indifference curves are always convex to the origin O because of diminishing MRS. It implies that marginal rate of substitution diminishes along an indifference curve. This implies that as consumer gets more and more of one good, he is willing to give up less and less of another.


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