Google
Friday 
February 14, 2025 

AmosWEB means Economics with a Touch of Whimsy!

AmosWEBWEB*pediaGLOSS*aramaECON*worldCLASS*portalQUIZ*tasticPED GuideXtra CrediteTutorA*PLS
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD: A government body overseeing relations between unions and management -- the workers and their employers. It was established by the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, but was modified by the Labor-Management Relations Act in 1947. The National Labor Relations Board is the place to go should either unions or management suspect the other side is engaging in unfair labor practices.

Visit the GLOSS*arama


SLOPE, CONSUMPTION LINE:

The positive slope of the consumption line is also termed the marginal propensity to consume (MPC). This slope is greater than zero but less than one, reflecting induced consumption and the Keynesian psychological law of consumer behavior that consumption increases by less than the increase in income. The slope of the consumption line provides the foundation for the slope of the aggregate expenditures line and thus also affects the magnitude of the multiplier process.
Consumption Line
Consumption Line
The consumption line, also termed propensity-to-consume line or consumption function, shows the relation between consumption expenditures and income for the household sector. The income measure commonly used is national income or disposable income. Occasionally a measure of aggregate production, such as gross domestic product, is used instead.

A representative consumption line is presented in the exhibit to the right. This red line, labeled C in the exhibit, is positively sloped, indicating that greater levels of income generate greater consumption expenditures by the household sector. This positive relation corresponds to the fundamental psychological law of Keynesian economics.

The consumption line graphically illustrates the consumption-income relation for the household sector, which is the foundation of the aggregate expenditures line used in Keynesian economics to identify equilibrium income and production. For reference, a black 45-degree line is also presented in this exhibit. Because this line has a slope of one, it indicates the relative slope of the consumption line.

The slope of the consumption line presented here is positive, but less than one. In fact, the slope of the consumption line is numerically equal to the marginal propensity to consume. In this case the slope is equal to 0.75. The positive slope reflects induced consumption expenditures--more income means more consumption. It also reflects the basic Keynesian psychological law. Click the [Slope] button to illustrate.

To illustrate the equality between slope and the marginal propensity to consume, consider the equations for each. The slope of the consumption line is specified as the "rise" over the "run." The rise is the change in consumption measured on the vertical axis and the run is the change in income measured on the horizontal axis.

slope=rise
run
=change in consumption
change in income
The marginal propensity to consume (MPC) is the incremental change in consumption resulting from an incremental change in income.
MPC=change in consumption
change in income
The slope of the consumption line is the marginal propensity to consume, they are one and the same.

The positive slope of the consumption line reflects induced consumption, which is consumption that depends on the level of household sector income. If the household sector receives more income, then it is induced to undertake additional consumption expenditures. Of course, a drop in income induces the household sector to reduce expenditures.

<= SLOPE, AGGREGATE EXPENDITURES LINESLOPE, GOVERNMENT PURCHASES LINE =>


Recommended Citation:

SLOPE, CONSUMPTION LINE, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2025. [Accessed: February 14, 2025].


Check Out These Related Terms...

     | consumption line | intercept, consumption line | saving line | slope, saving line | intercept, saving line | consumption schedule | consumption function | induced consumption | autonomous consumption | average propensity to consume | marginal propensity to consume | derivation, consumption line | effective demand | psychological law |


Or For A Little Background...

     | consumption | consumption expenditures | Keynesian economics | macroeconomics | household sector | disposable income | national income | gross domestic product | saving |


And For Further Study...

     | personal consumption expenditures | induced expenditures | autonomous expenditures | aggregate expenditures | aggregate expenditures line | derivation, saving line | consumption expenditures determinants | Keynesian model | Keynesian equilibrium | injections-leakages model | aggregate demand | paradox of thrift | fiscal policy | multiplier |


Search Again?

Back to the WEB*pedia


APLS

GREEN LOGIGUIN
[What's This?]

Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time strolling through a department store hoping to buy either a lazy Susan for you dining room table or a set of serrated steak knives, with durable plastic handles. Be on the lookout for the happiest person in the room.
Your Complete Scope

This isn't me! What am I?

The word "fiscal" is derived from a Latin word meaning "moneybag."
"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."

-- Art Linkletter

PIH
Permanent Income Hypothesis
A PEDestrian's Guide
Xtra Credit
Tell us what you think about AmosWEB. Like what you see? Have suggestions for improvements? Let us know. Click the User Feedback link.

User Feedback



| AmosWEB | WEB*pedia | GLOSS*arama | ECON*world | CLASS*portal | QUIZ*tastic | PED Guide | Xtra Credit | eTutor | A*PLS |
| About Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Statement |

Thanks for visiting AmosWEB
Copyright ©2000-2025 AmosWEB*LLC
Send comments or questions to: WebMaster