Under what condition should an economy continue producing a good or service?

The rationale for continuing to produce a good or service lies in the relationship between marginal benefit and marginal cost. When marginal benefit exceeds marginal cost, it indicates that the additional benefit gained from producing one more unit of the good or service is greater than the additional cost incurred in producing that unit. This scenario suggests that there is still an incentive to produce more because each additional unit contributes positively to overall welfare or profit.

In the context of economics, producers aim to maximize their utility or profit. When the marginal benefit is higher, it's a signal that resources are being used efficiently and that producing additional units is enhancing value in the economy. Conversely, if marginal benefit were less than marginal cost, production would lead to a decrease in overall welfare, as the costs outweigh the benefits.

Total cost equaling total benefit does not provide guidance on whether to continue production; it only suggests a break-even point without indicating whether further production is beneficial. Similarly, stating that marginal cost equals profit doesn't provide the necessary information on the balance of benefits versus costs to inform production decisions. Thus, the principle of comparing marginal benefit and marginal cost is central to determining optimal production levels in economics.