Skip to main content

Returns to Scale

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics

Abstract

The technique of production of a commodityy may be characterized as a function of the required inputsX i :

$$y = f\left( {{x_1},{x_2}, \ldots {x_n}} \right)$$

If all inputs are multiplied by a positive scalar,t, and the consequent output represented astsy, then the value ofs may be said to indicate the magnitude of returns to scale.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  • Kaldor, N. 1966.Causes of the Slow Rate of Economic Growth in the United Kingdom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, A. 1890.Principles of Economics. 9th (Variorum) edn, London: Macmillan, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A. 1776.An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. London: Methuen, 1961.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sraffa, P. 1925. Sulla relazioni fra costo e quantità prodotta.Annali di Economia 2, 277–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sraffa, P. 1926. The laws of returns under competitive conditions.Economic Journal 36, 535–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, A.A. 1928. Increasing returns and economic progress.Economic Journal 38, 527–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Steven N. Durlauf Lawrence E. Blume

Copyright information

© 2008 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited

About this entry

Cite this entry

Eatwell, J. (2008). Returns to Scale. In: Durlauf, S.N., Blume, L.E. (eds) The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-58802-2_1429

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-58802-2_1429

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-333-78676-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-58802-2

Publish with us

Policies and ethics