Returns to Scale
Returns to Scale refers to how the output of a production process changes as all inputs are increased proportionally. If output increases by a greater percentage than the increase in inputs, it is called increasing returns to scale. Conversely, if output increases by a smaller percentage, it is termed decreasing returns to scale.
This concept is crucial in understanding the efficiency of production. For example, a firm may experience increasing returns to scale due to better management or technology, while another may face decreasing returns due to limitations in resources or coordination challenges.