EconLearn
AP MicroeconomicsConsumer Choice

Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility

The law of diminishing marginal utility states that each additional unit of a good consumed adds less extra satisfaction than the unit before it.

As consumption rises, marginal utility falls. It helps explain why demand curves slope downward, since consumers will only buy more at lower prices. It underlies the consumer's utility-maximizing choice.

Related terms

AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, EconLearn.