What are the assumptions of ordinal utility?

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Assumptions: The ordinal utility theory or the indifference curve analysis is based on four main assumptions. (i) Rational behavior of the consumer: It is assumed that individuals are rational in making decisions from their expenditures on consumer goods. (ii) Utility is ordinal: Utility cannot be measured cardinally.



Herein, what is the concept of ordinal utility?

In economics, an ordinal utility function is a function representing the preferences of an agent on an ordinal scale. Ordinal utility theory claims that it is only meaningful to ask which option is better than the other, but it is meaningless to ask how much better it is or how good it is.

Likewise, who gave ordinal utility approach? Prof. D.H. Robertson was of the view indifference curve approach is like an old wine in a new bottle and tells nothing new. He further advocates that indifference curve approach is same as utility theory. The only change which Hick has made is in use of words, MRS instead of marginal utility.

Likewise, people ask, what is ordinal utility with example?

Ordinal Utility. In ordinal utility, the consumer only ranks choices in terms of preference but we do not give exact numerical figures for utility. For example, we prefer a BMW car to a Nissan car, but we don't say by how much. It is argued this is more relevant in the real world.

What is cardinal and ordinal utility theory?

Cardinal utility is the utility wherein the satisfaction derived by the consumers from the consumption of good or service can be measured numerically. 2. Ordinal utility states that the satisfaction which a consumer derives from the consumption of product or service cannot be measured numerically.

34 Related Question Answers Found

What is the concept of utility?

Utility is a loose and controversial topic in microeconomics. Generally speaking, utility refers to the degree of removed discomfort or perceived satisfaction that an individual receives from an economic act — for example, a consumer purchases a hamburger to alleviate hunger pangs and to enjoy a tasty meal.

What are the types of utility?

There are four different types of utility: form, place, time, and possession utility.

What are the three assumptions of an ordinal measure of utility?

Assumptions: The ordinal utility theory or the indifference curve analysis is based on four main assumptions. (i) Rational behavior of the consumer: It is assumed that individuals are rational in making decisions from their expenditures on consumer goods. (ii) Utility is ordinal: Utility cannot be measured cardinally.

What is law of equi marginal utility?

The law of equi-marginal utility states that the consumer will distribute his money income between the goods in such a way that the utility derived from the last rupee spend on each good is equal. In other words, consumer is in equilibrium position when marginal utility of money expenditure on each goods is the same.

Which is ordinal number?


An Ordinal Number is a number that tells the position of something in a list, such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th etc. Most ordinal numbers end in "th" except for: one ⇒ first (1st) two ⇒ second (2nd)

What is the principle of diminishing marginal utility?

The principle of diminishing marginal utility states that as an individual consumes more of a good, the marginal benefit of each additional unit of that good decreases. The concept of diminishing marginal utility is easy to understand since there are numerous examples of it in everyday life.

What do you mean by the term demand?

Definition: Demand is an economic term that refers to the amount of products or services that consumers wish to purchase at any given price level. The mere desire of a consumer for a product is not demand. In other words, it's the amount of products or services that consumers are willing and able to purchase.

How do you measure utility?

Utility is measured in units called utils, but calculating the benefit or satisfaction that consumers receive from is abstract and difficult to pinpoint. As a result, economists measure utility in terms of revealed preferences by observing consumers' choices.

What is difference between cardinal and ordinal?

Cardinal utility refers to the satisfaction that can be measured number whereas Ordinal utility refers to the satisfaction that can not measure by number. Cardinal utility is less realistic whereas Ordinal utility is more realistic . Cardinal utility is quantative measure whereas Ordinal utility is qualitative measure.

What is the relationship between total utility and marginal utility?


Utility is the satisfaction that a person derives from the consumption of a good or service. Total utility is the total satisfaction received from consuming a given total quantity of a good or service, while marginal utility is the satisfaction gained from consuming another quantity of a good or service.

When total utility is maximum marginal utility is?

Total utility is maximum when Marginal utility is zero. It is based in the law of diminishing marginal utility which says 'as more and more units of a good are consumed, MU i.e level of satisfaction derived from each successive unit goes on falling because desire for that commodity tend to fall.

What are the two approaches to measure utility?

It's difficult to measure a qualitative concept such as utility, but economists try to quantify it in two different ways: cardinal utility and ordinal utility. Both of these values are imperfect, but they provide an important foundation for studying consumer choice.

What is indifference curve in economics?

Definition of 'Indifference Curve'
Definition: An indifference curve is a graph showing combination of two goods that give the consumer equal satisfaction and utility. The graph shows a combination of two goods that the consumer consumes.

Is marginal utility an ordinal concept?

In short, ordinal utility only ranks various consumption bundles, whereas cardinal utility provides an actual index or measure of satisfaction. marginal utility Each additional unit of a good eventually gives less and less extra utility.

What is consumer equilibrium?


Consumer's equilibrium is a situation when he spends his given income on the purchase of one or more commodities in such a way that he gets maximum satisfaction and has no urge to change this level of consumption, given the prices of commodities. (B) Condition Of Consumer Equilibrium In Case Of Single Commodity.

What is the difference between ordinal utility and cardinal utility ordinal utility refers to?

What is the difference between ordinal utility and cardinal? utility? Ordinal utility refers to a ranking of market baskets in order of most to least? preferred, while cardinal utility indicates how much one market basket is preferred to another.

How is utility maximized under ordinal approach?

In ordinal utility theory, a consumer shall be in equilibrium where he can maximize his utility subject to his budget constraint. In other words, where the indifference curve and the budget line are tangent to each other(i.e their slopes are equal)the consumer will attain equilibrium.