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The law of variable proportions or diminishing returns has been stated by Bentham in the following manner.

"As the proportion of one factor in a combination of factors is increased, after a point, first the marginal and then the average production of that factor will diminishing".

The behaviour of output as a result of change in the proportion of variable factors to the fixed factor can be studied through three stages.

Assumptions of the Law:

  1. The state of technology is assumed be given and unchanged.
  2. The law specially operates in the short run because some factors are fixed and the proportion between factors is disturbed.
  3. Variable factor units are homogeneous or identical in amount and quality.
  4. The law is based on the possibility of varying the proportions in which the various factors can be combined to produce a product.

The behaviour of these total, average and marginal products of the variable factor as a result of the increase in its amount is generally divided into three stages.

Stage-I (Increasing Return)

Total Product increases at an increasing rate to a particular point say F. Corresponding to the point F Marginal Product increases up to this level. From the point F Total Product goes on rising at a diminishing rate and Marginal Product starts falling -but is still higher than Average Product and the AP continues to rise. 1st stage ends where MP curve cuts AP curve from above.

Stage-II (Diminishing Return)

The second stage begins from the point of intersection of AP and MP curves and ends at that point where" MP is zero. At this stage both MP and AP go on falling and both of them are positive. The total product goes on rising at a diminishing rate. This stage is known as the stage of diminishing return. This is stage where a firm wishes to operate.

Stage-III (Negative Return)

In the third stage Marginal Product of variable factor is zero. MP curve cuts the OX-axis at point M. In this stage the Total Product starts diminishing. Total Product continues to decline. As MP is negative this stage is also known as the stage of negative return.

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