<p>Why would one need to graph the function? Isn't any information in the graph already given in the function?</p>

<p>In  a certain sense <em>all</em> calculations are redundant as they are mathematical tautologies. Yet these indices make some things more clear, which is obviously useful.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-07T19:40:52.930Z
an interesting comment, but not quite an answer. I'm interested in the novel information that the calculation of elasticity of subsidization provides us with that I cant learn from other calculations.
EconJohn
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2018-05-07T20:10:35.213Z
@EconJohn I would recommend making your question more clear then. This has nothing to do with drawing graphs.
Giskard
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2018-06-07T08:59:38.670Z
@EconJohn Please make your question much more clear. It has not been answered for a month.
Giskard
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2018-06-07T13:34:20.677Z
I did the edits.
EconJohn
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2024-05-24T11:38:10.227Z
Seems like your edit only served to make my answer out of sync with the question, as no one has answered it in the 6 years since.
Giskard
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2024-05-28T21:06:22.930Z
6 years later, I think im finally mature enough to say this makes sense.
EconJohn
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2024-05-29T11:10:25.290Z
Cool! Delete Q or accept A?
Giskard
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2018-05-07T18:20:20.650Z
2018-05-07T20:09:27.747Z
2018-05-07T20:09:27.747Z
Giskard
<p>Elasticity of subsitution is a measure of the curvature of an isoquant<sup>1</sup> and can provide us information regarding the nature of the production functions we are dealing with. this is visualized in <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0273731912" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Advanced Microeconomic Theory 
by Geoffrey A. Jehle (Author), Philip J. Reny </a> (page 130 in the book) as:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/OvlZN.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OvlZN.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>However I wonder, isn't this information regarding the curvature of a isoquant given by the production function? what novel information does the calculation of elasticity of substitution provide us with? </p>

<hr>

<p><sub>1. I'm aware that elasticity of substitution can also be applied to consumer theory, just that its dominant in producer theory. </sub></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T00:02:16.297Z
Graphing would be enough except that you'd have to make a 3-dimensional graph, which is cumbersome.
Herr K.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-06T16:15:22.377Z
de la Grandville, O. (1997): "Curvature and the Elasticity of Substitution: Straightening It Out," _Journal of Economics,_ 1, pp. 23-34 challenges the notion that "is a measure of the curvature of an isoquant."
Patricio
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-13T04:31:13.023Z
@HerrK. 3-dimensions have another problem from what i know, MRTS is a calculation made between only two inputs, so for more than  that i'm not sure what you would do.
EconJohn
<microeconomics><elasticity>
Elasticity of subsitution: a redundant calculation?
EconJohn
# Elasticity of subsitution: a redundant calculation?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-07)

Elasticity of subsitution is a measure of the curvature of an isoquant1 and can provide us information regarding the nature of the production functions we are dealing with. this is visualized in [Advanced Microeconomic Theory
by Geoffrey A. Jehle (Author), Philip J. Reny](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0273731912)  (page 130 in the book) as:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/OvlZN.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/OvlZN.png)

However I wonder, isn't this information regarding the curvature of a isoquant given by the production function? what novel information does the calculation of elasticity of substitution provide us with?

---

1. I'm aware that elasticity of substitution can also be applied to consumer theory, just that its dominant in producer theory.

**Tags:** microeconomics, elasticity
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Graphing would be enough except that you'd have to make a 3-dimensional graph, which is cumbersome.  
> **username_0**: @HerrK. 3-dimensions have another problem from what i know, MRTS is a calculation made between only two inputs, so for more than  that i'm not sure what you would do.  
> **username_2**: de la Grandville, O. (1997): "Curvature and the Elasticity of Substitution: Straightening It Out," _Journal of Economics,_ 1, pp. 23-34 challenges the notion that "is a measure of the curvature of an isoquant."  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-05-07. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

Why would one need to graph the function? Isn't any information in the graph already given in the function?

In a certain sense *all* calculations are redundant as they are mathematical tautologies. Yet these indices make some things more clear, which is obviously useful.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: an interesting comment, but not quite an answer. I'm interested in the novel information that the calculation of elasticity of subsidization provides us with that I cant learn from other calculations.  
> **username_3**: @EconJohn I would recommend making your question more clear then. This has nothing to do with drawing graphs.  
> **username_3**: @EconJohn Please make your question much more clear. It has not been answered for a month.  
> **username_0**: I did the edits.  
> **username_3**: Seems like your edit only served to make my answer out of sync with the question, as no one has answered it in the 6 years since.  
> **username_0**: 6 years later, I think im finally mature enough to say this makes sense.  
> **username_3**: Cool! Delete Q or accept A?  

---

