Question map
Capital deepening refers to
Explanation
Capital deepening refers to an increase in the capital-to-labor ratio within an economy [1]. It occurs when the amount of fixed capital, such as machinery, equipment, and infrastructure, increases relative to the number of workers. This process allows each unit of labor to have more capital to work with, which typically enhances labor productivity and output per worker [2]. Unlike capital widening, which involves increasing both capital and labor to maintain a constant ratio, capital deepening specifically focuses on giving more machines or tools to the same number of workers, making the production process more capital-intensive. While it drives economic growth by improving worker efficiency and technology adoption, it can lead to a decline in capital productivity due to diminishing returns [1]. Therefore, it is best described as going for more fixed capital per worker.
Sources
- [1] https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/detailed-methodology-information/concepts-sources-methods/australian-system-national-accounts-concepts-sources-and-methods/2020-21/chapter-19-productivity-measures/concepts
- [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_deepening