It was first given by Edgeworth, but he uses it to show the possibility of exchange between two persons and not to explain consumer’s demand.

Two English economist, J.R. Hicks and R.G.D. Allen in their paper ‘A Reconsideration of the Theory of Value’, criticised Marshall’s cardinal utility analysis and put forward the indifference curve approach based on ordinal utility to explain consumer behavior. In 1939,Hicks reproduced the indifference curve theory in his book ‘Value and capital’.

According to the supporters of the indifference curve theory, utility is a psychic entity and it cannot therefore be measured in quantitative cardinal terms. Utility is psychological feeling is not quantifiable.

Ordinal utility implies that the consumer is capable of simply ‘comparing the different levels of satisfaction’.

According to the ordinal utility hypothesis, while the consumer may not be able to indicate the exact amount of utility that he derives from commodities or any combination of them, but he is capable of judging whether the satisfaction obtained from a good or a combination of goods is equal to, lower than, or higher than another.

Indifference curve shows different combinations of two goods that gives equal satisfaction to the consumer and consumer is indifferent in the choice of matter between them.

DefinitionKoutsoyiannis, “An indifference curve is the

locus of point particular combination of goods, which yield the same utility to the consumer, so that he is indifferent as to the particular combination he consumes.”

Rational Consumer Ordinal Utility Diminishing Marginal Rate of

Substitution Two Goods Model Continuity Scale of Preference Transitivity Consistency in Selection Non Satiety Weak Ordering

Combination

X Good

Y Good MRSxy

A 1 15 ----

B 2 11 1:4

C 3 8 1:3

D 4 6 1:2

E 5 5 1:1

Y

XO A1 A2 A3 A4 X commodity

B1

B2B3B4Y

com

mod

ityIC

C

C2

C3C4

L

M

N

It consist of set of indifference curves. A diagram showing a number of indifferent curves corresponding to different indifference schedules is an indifference map. A lower IC shows lower level of satisfaction.

Y

Y C

omm

odity

XO X Commodity

IC1

IC2

IC3

The rate at which the consumer is prepared to exchange goods X and Y is known as marginal rate of substitution.

OrWe may define the marginal rate of substitution of X

for Y as the amount of Y whose loss can just compensate the consumer for one unit gain in X.

MRS of X for Y diminishes as more and more of good X is substituted for good Y. In other words, as the consumer has more and more of good X, he is prepared to forgo less and less of good Y.

MRSxy=(-) -----

▲Y▲X

There are two reasons:

First, the want for a particular good is satiable Second, the goods are imperfect substitutes

Property 1. Indifference Curve slopes downward to the right

IC Can’t be

Y

XIC

Y c

om

mo

dity

O X commodity

Y

X

Y

X

Y

XO O O

Property 2: IC are convex to the origin

Can’t beIC

O a a1 a2 a3 X X Commodity

Y

b

b1b2b3

Y C

omm

odity

Property 3. IC can’t Intersect and touch each other

Property 4. A higher IC show higher level of Satisfaction

A

B

C

O M N X X Commodity

Y

S

RQY

com

mod

ity

O a1 X X commodity

Y

B1

B2

E

E1

A B

C

Y g

ood

Property 5: IC need not be parallel to each other

Property6: IC do not touch either X- axis or Y axis

Y

Y g

ood

O X Good X

Y

O X good X

Y g

ood

IC3IC2IC2

IC in case of Substitute

IC in case of complimentary

goods

X good

Y g

ood

X good

Y g

ood

IC1IC2

IC2IC1