Measures of Dispersion

The measures of central tendency do not always show the real picture. Take for example, the following numbers

35, 35, 35, 35, 35

and

20, 25, 30,45, 55

The mean of both the series is 35. That is 35 is representative of both the series. However, there is variability in data. In the first series, all the values are equal to 35, in the second one, they vary and none of the values is 35. So, we say that dispersion or variability exists. We can find this dispersion amongst the values and between the values and the mean. The methods to find them are the measures of dispersion. They are

1. Range

2. Quartile Deviation

3. Mean Deviation

4. Standard Deviation

5. Lorenz Curve

Consumer's Equilibrium using Marginal Utility Analysis

The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility It has been observed that the desire to consume a commodity decreases as more and more units of that commodity are consumed. Therefore, every successive unit of the commodity consumed provides lesser utility than before. The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility states that as more and more units of a commodity are consumed, the Marginal Utility derived from every successive unit of the commodity declines. This happens because psychologically, as a consumer starts to consume one unit of the good after another, the the consumers satisfaction reaches a saturation point. So, with every successive unit consumed, the additional utility the consumer derives goes on declining. Consumer's Equilibrium using Marginal Utility: Cardinal Analysis Consumer's equilibrium is that level of consumption at which the consumer is getting maximum satisfaction (benefit) while spending out of his given income across different goods and services, and has no tende

Understanding Trade-Offs in Economics: Balancing Choices for Optimal Outcomes

TRADE-OFFS Economics is concerned with people making decisions. However, these decisions are not always easy to make as making a decision involves making a choice. This choice may be between different alternatives/goals/options. Generally, choosing one goal means not being able to choose the other one. This results in what we call a trade-off where in order to choose one thing we have to let go or sacrifice the other one. Examples of Trade-Offs: P eople face numerous trade-offs in their daily lives. Let’s say a person wants to reach his office. He may either go by car or bicycle. Going by a bicycle is not only environmentally friendly but also is a good exercise. However, going by a car will save time and make him reach faster. This is a situation of trade-off where the person has to choose an option and in choosing one, he will be giving up the other one. A family which has a limited monthly budget has to decide whether to spend that money on a vacation, saving for their chil

What are Consumer Goods, Capital Goods and Intermediate Goods? With Examples

Consumer Goods, Capital Goods, Intermediate Goods After the production of a good or service, the next aim of the producer is to sell the good to the consumer. The consumer can be an individual or a firm; and the good when sold to the consumer can be consumed as it is or the good can be transformed into another good with the help of a productive process such as a machine. For example, when wheat is sold to a flour mill, it is converted into flour through the use of machinery. When a good is transformed into another good like in the case of wheat, it loses its specific characteristic during the production process. Such type of a good is known as intermediate good. When the goods are not further transformed into other goods, and are used as it is, it is known as final goods. So, the final goods are those which do not pass through any further production process or transformation and are used as it is by the consumers. The final goods can be of two types- Consumer goods and Capital

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