by In economics, an expansion path (also called a scale line) is a curve in a graph with quantities of two inputs, typically physical capital and labor, plotted on the axes. The path connects optimal input combinations as the scale of production expands. A producer seeking to produce a given number of units of a product in the cheapest possible way chooses the point on the expansion path that is also on the isoquant associated with that output level.
Economists Alfred Stonier and Douglas Hague defined “expansion path” as “that line which reflects the least–cost method of producing different levels of output, when factor prices remain constant.” The points on an expansion path occur where the firm’s isocost curves, each showing fixed total input cost, and its isoquants, each showing a particular level of output, are tangent; each tangency point determines the firm’s conditional factor demands. As a producer’s level of output increases, the firm moves from one of these tangency points to the next; the curve joining the tangency points is called the expansion path.
If an expansion path forms a straight line from the origin, the production technology is considered homothetic (or homoethetic). In this case, the ratio of input usages is always the same regardless of the level of output, and the inputs can be expanded proportionately so as to maintain this optimal ratio as the level of output expands. A Cobb–Douglas production function is an example of a production function that has an expansion path which is a straight line through the origin.
Meaning of Expansion Path:
We know that the production function of the firm
q = f(x,y)
Gives us the isoquant map of the firm, one isoquant (IQ) for each particular level of output, and the cost equation of the firm
C = rXx + rYy
gives us the family of parallel iso-cost lines (ICLs), given the prices of the inputs rX and rY, one ICL for one particular level of cost. The IQ-map and the family of ICLs have been given in Fig. If we now join the point of origin 0 and the points of tangency, E1, E2, E3, etc., between the IQs and the ICLs by a curve, then this curve would give us what is known as the expansion path of the firm.
The expansion path is so called because if the firm decides to expand its operations, it would have to move along this path. Let us note that the firm may expand in two ways.
First, it may want to expand by successively increasing its level of cost or its expenditure on the inputs X and Y, i.e., by using more and more of inputs, and, consequently, by producing more of its output.
Second, the firm may decide to expand by increasing its level of output per period. This the firm may do by increasing the expenditure on the inputs, i.e., by using more and more of them.
The two approaches to expansion apparently appear to be the same, for both involve an increase in expenditure. However, there is a fundamental difference. In the first case, decision is taken initially at the point of cost. Cost levels are made higher and higher and then efforts are made to maximize the level of output subject to the cost constraint.
On the other hand, in the second case, decision-making occurs initially and directly at the point of output. Here the firm first decides to produce more of output and then efforts are made to produce the output at the minimum possible cost.
Types of Expansion Path
- Expansion by Means of Increasing the Level of Expenditure on the Inputs
In Fig. let us suppose that, initially, the firm’s level of cost is such that its ICL is L1M1 and output-maximization subject to cost constraint occurs at the point of tangency, E1, between the ICL, L1M1, and an IQ which is IQ1. At E1 the firm uses X1 of the first input and y1 of the second input to produce the maximum possible output, say, q1, which is represented by IQ1.
Now, if the firm decides to expand by increasing the cost level from the level of L1M1 to that of L2M2, then the firm would be in output-maximising equilibrium at the point of tangency E2 (x2, y2), on IQ2, using more of the inputs, x2 > x1 and y2 > y1, and producing an output level, say, q2, q2 > q1, since IQ2 is a higher isoquant than IQ1.
In the same way, if the firm decides to expand further, it would increase its cost level from that of L2M2 to that of L3M3 and it would produce the maximum output subject to the cost constraint at the point of tangency E3 (x3, y3) on IQ3 using more of the inputs, x3 > x2 and y3 > y2, and producing a higher level of output, say, q3, q3 > q2, since IQ3 is a higher IQ than IQ2.
The process of expansion of firm’s operations through increases in the level of cost may go on in this say so long as the firm decides in its favour. If we now join the point of origin O and the points E1, E2, E3, etc. by a path, then we would obtain the firm’s expansion path.
That is, if the firm expands by increasing its level of cost, it would have to move successively from one equilibrium point to another along this expansion path.
We have joined the path through the equilibrium points E1, E2, etc. with the point of origin O, because if the firm moves backward along the expansion path by decreasing the cost level then it would be moving from the initial equilibrium point, say, E3 to E2, then from E2 to E) and would approach the point O which would be the limiting point in this process.
As the firm’s cost level decreases and tends to zero, the input quantities and the output quantity would all decrease and tend to zero, and thus the point of origin O would be the limiting point.
- Expansion by Means of Increasing the Level of Output
In Fig. let us suppose that initially the firm decides to produce q1 of output which can be produced at any point on the isoquant, IQ1. The firm would be in cost-minimizing equilibrium at the point E1 which is the point of tangency between IQ1 and an iso-cost line say, ICL1. At the point E1, the firm would use Xi and y] quantities of the two inputs and its cost amounts to, say, C1, which is the minimum possible.
The firm may now decide to expand by increasing its level of output from q1 to q2 on IQ2. If the firm makes this decision, its cost-minimizing equilibrium will be obtained at the point of tangency E2 (x2, y2) on L2M2 using more of the inputs, x2 > x1 and y2 > y1 and incurring a cost level C2 on L2M2, which is the minimum possible required to produce the output of q2. However, C2 > C1 since L2M2 is a higher ICL than L2M2.
In the same way, the firm may decide to increase again its level of output from q2 to q3 on IQ3. In this case, the firm’s equilibrium point would be the point of tangency E3 (x3, y3) on the ICL, L3M3. At E3, the firm would use still more of the inputs, x3 > x2 and y3 > y2, incurring a cost level C3 on L3M3, which is the minimum required for producing q3 of output. However, C3 > C2 since L3M3 is a higher ICL than L2M2.
The firm’s process of expansion may go on like this as long as it decides to expand. The expansion path again would be OK that would start from the point of origin O and pass through the points E1, E2, E3, etc.
If the firm decides to contract and produce less of output, then the limiting point of the process of contraction would be the point of origin O, where the firm’s use of the inputs, its cost level and output would all tend to zero.
The Equation of the Expansion Path
Each point on the expansion path, is a point of tangency between an isoquant and an iso-cost line. Therefore, at each point on the expansion path, we have numerical slope of the IQ = numerical slope of the ICL
⇒ MRTSX,Y = rX/rY
⇒ fX/fY= rX/rY = constant [... rX and rY are given and constant]
Therefore, gives us the equation of the expansion path.
