Before we start, it is important to note:
The Production Possibilities Frontier (PPF) is the same exact thing as the Production Possibilities Curve (PPC).
(Depending on the professor, they may call it different names.)
To understand what a PPF, is it is important to first understand a very key concept in Economics.
Scarcity which refers to the limited nature of society's resources.
Our society does not have unlimited resources which means that we must make decisions with how limited resources are used.
Here inlies the value of PPF curves…
A PPF is a line or curve on a graph showing the maximum attainable combinations of two goods that can be produced with resources and technology.
Here is an example:
Example: Imagine you're a bartender at Study Street Bar & Grille and you serve 2 drink specials on Thursday nights. Both specials use the same type of vodka, and you only have one handle left. You can either use all of the vodka to make 20 vodka sodas or use all of the vodka to pour 40 lemon drop shots.
In this case, the vodka is the limited resource: we only have 1 handle and now we are faced with the decision of how to use the vodka. A PPF graphs out this scenario and shows the different combinations of the two drinks that we can make. On each axis will be one of the drinks (the good we produce in this scenario).
Creating a Production Possibilities Frontier (PPF) graph
Let’s start with a graph and label 20 on our y-axis as vodka shots and 40 on our x-axis as lemon drop shots. (Keep in mind: we could flip these. It doesn't matter which good you assign to which axis.)
Why are we putting these values on our x-axis and y-axis?
Because according to the prompt...
Example: Imagine you're a bartender at Study Street Bar & Grille and you serve 2 drink specials on Thursday nights. Both specials use the same type of vodka, and you only have one handle left. You can either use all of the vodka to make 20 vodka sodas or use all of the vodka to pour 40 lemon drop shots.
...it’s the number of units we can get if we max out on any one of the given specials!
In other words, if we make 0 lemon drop shots, that means we can make 20 vodka sodas. On the flip side, if we make 0 vodka sodas, that means we can make 40 lemon drop shots.
Calculating opportunity cost using the Production Possibility Frontier (PPF)
Essentially, we need to determine how much of 1 vodka soda we'd have to give up in order to make "X" amount of lemon drops.
Whenever trying to understand the PPF at a given point, ask yourself: How many of good A you’d need to give up to get one of good B?
Considering that the PPF represents all the possible combinations of vodka sodas and lemon drop shots we can make, let’s use it to determine the opportunity cost of each drink.
Speaking in linear terms, we need to find the slope of our PPF line to determine the opportunity cost of each drink.
If you remember from mathematics, here's the equation for slope...
slope = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)
For (x1, y1), we'll make this the point representing the max vodka sodas you could make. That occurs at (0, 20).
slope = (y2 - 20) / (x2 - 0)
For (x2, y2), we'll make this the point representing the max vodka sodas you could make. That occurs at (40, 0).
slope = (0 - 20) / (40 - 0)
When we solve this...
slope = (0 - 20) / (40 - 0) = -20 / 40 = -1/2
...we get a slope of -1/2.
What does this mean?
In relation to opportunity cost, we can understand it like so:
Opportunity Cost = What’s Lost / What’s Gained
So in our case...
Opportunity Cost = 1 vodka soda / 2 lemon drops
For example, if we lost one vodka soda (going from 20 to 19), that means we gain 2 lemon drops (going from 0 to 2)!
If we lost another vodka soda (going from 19 to 18), that means we gain 2 more lemon drops (going from 2 to 4)!
This process of losing 1 vodka soda for 2 lemon drops continues down the rest of our PPF line!
Inefficient and unattainable points on a PPF graph
The scenario we just ran through with drinks assumes that our vodka is used efficiently. If our point of production (the combinations of drinks we make) falls below the line then that means our production is inefficient.
Here is an example using the same scenario.
Say we make 12 vodka sodas and 8 lemon drops. This point is plotted on the graph below. We see that it is inefficient because at those levels of production, we could be making more vodka sodas or lemon drops.
If your point of production is below the PPF line, then your production is inefficient.
On the other hand, say we wanted to make 10 lemon drops and 22 vodka sodas. This point is plotted on the graph below. We see that it is unobtainable, because we physically cannot make those many drinks with one bottle of vodka.
If your point of production is above the PPF line, then your production is unobtainable.
Use the following four graphs for Questions 1 - 2.
Question #1: Suppose Will makes a technological discovery that allows him to become more efficient in the production of GBD shirts but does NOT affect his ability to produce more GBD hats. Which graph shows the most likely impact on Will’s PPF?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
When a technological discovery (or setback) happens that relates to only ONE product on the PPF, that is the only product affected. That means we can cross out any graphs that correspond to a change in GBD Hats (A, B, & C)...
...leaving us with answer choice D! This is the only graph that correctly only affects GBD Shirts. As stated in the problem, the technological discovery causes Will to be able to produce more GBD Shirts, resulting in the PPF expanding on the y-axis (corresponding to GBD Shirts).
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 | Apply | PRACTICE PROBLEM BANK (PREVIEW ONLY) |
 | Concept | Opportunity Cost |
| Concept | Production Possibility Frontier (PPF) |
| Concept | Demand |
| Concept | Supply (PREVIEW ONLY) |
| Concept | Equilibrium (PREVIEW ONLY) |
| Concept | Absolute vs. Comparative Advantage (PREVIEW ONLY) |
