refers to the satisfaction or benefit that a consumer receives from consuming a good or service. It is a measure of the usefulness or value that a product provides to an individual. Utility can be both subjective and objective, as it is influenced by personal preferences, needs, and circumstances. In economics, utility is often used to analyze consumer behavior and decision-making.
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Google Gemini AI
May 16
Meaning:
- Economics: The ability of a good or service to satisfy a need and create value for consumers. - Philosophy: The quality or attribute that makes something useful or desirable. - Mathematics: The value or function of a variable, parameter, or other object within a given system or context.
Characteristics:
- Subjective: Utility is perceived differently by individuals based on their preferences and needs. - Marginal: The additional utility gained from consuming an additional unit of a good or service usually decreases as more units are consumed. - Nonsaturable: In economic theory, utility is assumed to be nonsaturable, meaning that consumers can always benefit from having more of a good or service they value.
Measurement:
- Cardinal Utility: Utility is measured on an absolute scale, where the difference between two levels of utility can be quantified (e.g., in utils). - Ordinal Utility: Utility is ranked in order of preference, without quantifying the difference between levels (e.g., using a scale of "most preferred" to "least preferred").
Importance:
- Consumer Behavior: Utility theory is used to model and predict consumer choices and preferences. - Economics: Utility is used to allocate resources efficiently and measure economic welfare. - Decision-Making: Utility calculations can help individuals and organizations make informed decisions by weighing the potential benefits and drawbacks of different options.
Types of Utility:
- Total Utility: The sum of the utility derived from all units of a good or service consumed. - Marginal Utility: The utility gained from consuming an additional unit of a good or service. - Utility Function: A mathematical representation of the relationship between consumption and utility.
Related Concepts:
- Marginal Value - Diminishing Marginal Utility - Pareto Efficiency - Consumer Choice Theory